[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/11\/spinal-stenosis-symptoms-treatment\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/11\/spinal-stenosis-symptoms-treatment\/","headline":"Why Spinal Stenosis May be the Cause of Your Back Pain","name":"Why Spinal Stenosis May be the Cause of Your Back Pain","description":"Amazingly complex, remarkably strong, and incredibly flexible, your back is one of the most important parts of your body. ","datePublished":"2016-11-01","dateModified":"2024-01-04","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/orthopaedics-regions","name":"UPMC Orthopaedic Care","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/orthopaedics-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/orthopaedic-surgery\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/112016_SPINALSTENOSIS.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/112016_SPINALSTENOSIS.jpg","height":325,"width":751},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/11\/spinal-stenosis-symptoms-treatment\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Spine Health"],"wordCount":343,"keywords":["back pain","orthopaedic health","spinal health","spinal stenosis","spine health"],"articleBody":"Amazingly complex, remarkably strong, and incredibly flexible, your back is one of the most important parts of your body. Without it, you couldn\u2019t stand up straight, walk on the street, or dance the night away.But as we age, our backs often become a source of pain.What Is Spinal Stenosis?If you\u2019re over the age of 50, your back pain may be the result of\u00a0spinal stenosis\u00a0\u2014 the narrowing of the spinal column \u2014 which is most often caused by\u00a0osteoarthritis.\u00a0Types of spinal stenosisLumbar\u00a0spinal stenosis\u00a0is caused by a narrowing of the\u00a0spinal column\u00a0in the lower back that affects the legs and feet.Cervical spinal stenosis, which occurs higher up in the spine, causes symptoms in the arms and hands. \u00a0Symptoms typically progress over time.\u201cIf the narrowing compresses nerves in the spinal cord, you may experience pain and stiffness, numbness or weakness in the legs or arms, a loss of balance, or difficulty walking distances,\u201d said\u00a0Mark A. Fye, MD, orthopaedic spine surgeon.\u201cBecause\u00a0back pain\u00a0can be a symptom of several other illnesses and conditions, it\u2019s important to see an orthopaedic specialist to find out the cause of your pain,\u201d he said.Treatment of Spinal StenosisTreatment for spinal stenosis varies. For mild to moderate stenosis, you may get relief by sitting, lying down, or leaning forward while standing or walking. Your doctor also may suggest:Anti-inflammatory medication.Pain medicine.Physical therapy.Steroid injection and nerve blocks.Radiofrequency ablation\u00a0also may be\u00a0suggested, which uses radio waves to heat up nerve tissue to reduce pain.When these common treatment options don\u2019t work, you may be referred to a spine specialist who can talk to you about surgical options.Laminectomy\u00a0\u2014 also known as decompression surgery \u2014\u00a0is the most common approach to relieve pain and pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. \u00a0It involves removing the rear part of one or more vertebra (bones of the spine).on, visit our website.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on November 1, 2016, and was last reviewed on September 12, 2023."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2016","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"11","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/\/11\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Why Spinal Stenosis May be the Cause of Your Back Pain","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/11\/spinal-stenosis-symptoms-treatment\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]