Spinal stenosis
Pain often age related
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Just about everyone experiences back pain at some point in life. Often, this pain is felt in the lower back. For many, the pain can be relieved by simple measures or can improve on its own. But when back pain is persistent, or becomes slowly worse, it's time to look for other causes. One possible cause, especially as you get older, is spinal stenosis — a narrowing in one or more areas of your spine.
Spinal stenosis most often results from narrowing of the spinal canal that occurs over time. In fact, by age 50, most people's spines show at least some signs of age-related wear and tear of the disks and of facet joints, which can grow to be enlarged and arthritic. In some cases, these changes can put pressure on your spinal cord and nerves. This can lead to pain, numbness or weakness in your arms or legs as well as other problems that can affect your quality of life.
