Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal (which houses the spinal cord and its nerves) narrows, giving the spinal cord and nerves less room to move. It causes irritation and inflammation. At Mount Sinai, we have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating spinal stenosis.

Spinal Stenosis Symptoms

The exact symptoms of spinal stenosis vary depending on the precise location of the irritation and inflammation. In general, spinal stenosis causes pain in your back and legs. Other symptoms include clumsiness; pain when walking; frequent falling; and numbness, tingling, and hot or cold feeling in your legs. It can also lead to tingling in your arms or hands and even difficulties with bladder and bowel control. Symptoms often start gradually and worsen over time. You will work with our top-notch spine surgeons for treatment.

Spine Surgeons

At the Spine Hospital, our highly experienced surgeons have years of orthopedic training and experience.

• Andrew C. Hecht, MD – System Chief of Spine Surgery and Director of the Spine Center
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• Wesley H. Bronson, MD
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• Saad B. Chaudhary, MD
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• Samuel K. Cho, MD
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• Tanvir Choudhri, MD
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• Alexander Crawford, MD, MPH
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• Jun S. Kim, MD
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• Yunsoo Lee, MD
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• James D. Lin, MD
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• Konstantinos Margetis, MD, PhD
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• Jeremy M. Steinberger, MD
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• Chan Roonprapunt, MD
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Physiatrists

Physiatrists provide non-surgical care for spinal stenosis. They create personalized plans to relieve pain and improve function. Plans may include medications, activity guidance, and coordinated physical therapy. At the Spine Hospital, our physiatrists bring years of specialized training and experience.

• Joseph Bax, DO
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• Eugene Bulkin, MD
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• Alexander Lee, MD
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• Joseph Lee, MD
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• Martin Pico, MD
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• Chirag Shah, MD
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Causes of Spinal Stenosis

A number of issues can lead to spinal stenosis, incuding:

• Narrowing of the spinal canal
• Excess bone growth due to osteoporosis, dislocation, or fracture
• Bulging or herniated discs
• Arthritis

Some people are born with a small spinal canal, but generally, spinal stenosis results from a degenerative aging process. As we age, our spinal ligaments may thicken and calcify or our bones and joints may swell. Two forms of arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis) can also wear away the surface cartilage and cause an overgrowth of the bone that narrows the spinal canal.

Spinal Stenosis Diagnosis

To diagnose spinal stenosis, we start by taking your medical history and conducting a physical exam to assess your pain and symptoms. We also use an imaging test, such as an X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging,  or computerized tomography scan.