Medi-Fax Health Information Center

Spinal Stenosis, Lumbar

Contributor: Dr. Chris Ekong

  Spinal Stenosis:

     Spinal Stenosis is the narrowing of the hole in the spine through which the spinal cord and the spinal cord and the spinal nerves pass. In the lower back, this is called Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

     Lumbar Spinal Stenosis usually results in painful numbness of the legs with walking - Claudication. Cervical Spinal Stenosis may cause pressure on the spinal cord in the neck resulting in weakness and numbness in the arms and legs.

CT Scans
CT of the Lumbosacral spine showing a normal canal at the L5S1 level.
CT scan of the Lumbosacral spine at the L45 level showing narrowing of the spinal canal (the hole through which the nerves going down to the legs pass). This patients' symptoms of pain in both legs was relieved with surgery to open up the spinal canal(Laminectomy).

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