I had a great pleasure reading Dr. Stewart Eidelson's 5-part article on spinal stenosis. The information included in this article is accurate and informative. I would like add a few comments for the benefit of the readers or potential patients. First, spinal stenosis is indeed most common in the lumbar spine, followed by the cervical spine. However, occasionally, the thoracic spine is affected as well. Spinal stenosis in the thoracic spine can present with pain radiating around the rib (thoracic radiculopathy) or numbness, spasm, and weakness of the legs (myelopathy). Sometimes, lumbar stenosis and cervical stenosis co-exist, and the astute doctor will pickup both diagnoses and render appropriate treatment for both conditions. Also, leg symptoms and walking difficulty may be due to clogging of the leg vessels (vascular claudication) rather than due to lumbar spinal stenosis (neurogenic claudication). Sometimes, both vascular and neurogenic claudication conditions may co-exist. Again, making the correct diagnosis is important for subsequent treatment.
As Dr. Eidelson mentioned, lumbar stenosis is largely due to "wear and tear" or degenerative changes in the joints and intervertebral discs in the spine over many years, but some patients are born with smaller spinal canal (congenital stenosis). Congenital stenosis patients typically show symptoms in their 40s and 50s rather than in their 60s and beyond. Because of smaller canals at birth, minor bulging discs and degenerated joints tend to affect the nerves earlier in life in these patients. Some patients with congenital stenosis may undergo discectomy alone without decompressive procedures for the narrowed canal, and surgical outcomes may be compromised. Again, correct and precise diagnosis leads to correct treatment.
