Spinal Stenosis Risk Factors

Few risk factors increase the chance of occurrence of Spinal Stenosis. These factors are called as risk factors because they increase the chance of occurrence of the disease. Find out here which are risk factors that increase the risk of getting Spinal Stenosis.

Narrow spinal canal- Narrow spinal canal is a big risk factor. It increases the chance of Spinal Stenosis. A baby born with narrow spinal canal has more chances of being diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis. People born with normal spinal canal have lower risk of getting the disease.

But again at a later stage people may acquire Spinal Stenosis. It happens because of narrow spinal canal. Due to many reasons the spinal canal becomes narrow and then the person faces Spinal Stenosis problem.

Narrow spinal canal may be the result of many factors like tumor, extra growth of tissues, injury, abnormality etc. All these factors may cause extra bone growth or bone loss, loss of ligaments etc. Tumors and extra growths may block the spinal canal thereby making it narrow. In such cases Spinal Stenosis will appear.

Gender - Spinal Stenosis occurs in both the genders but the intensity may vary. In some places it occurs at the same intensity in both men and women. But in some other places it is seen mostly in the women. Women are more susceptible to Spinal Stenosis. In girl child the occurrence of Spinal Stenosis is high in comparison to boys.

Age -  Age is the biggest risk factor for Spinal Stenosis. In most of the cases, Spinal Stenosis occurs in older people. It generally occurs in people who are more than 50 years of age. As you become old its occurrence and intensity increases. It is an age related problem. As you become old your spine starts to degenerate. Various types of damage occur to the spine at old age, which cause Spinal Stenosis.

With age the bones, ligaments become degenerated and their loss occurs. Sometimes tumors and such extra growth also occur in the old age. In such cases, the risk of  Spinal Stenosis increases. After 50 years of age, the bones and ligaments become old and so they are not able to perform their functions properly. In such cases Spinal Stenosis may occur. The space within the spinal canal starts reducing. This reduction in the space in the spinal canal is one of the most important causes of Spinal Stenosis. 

Some children born with the narrow spinal canal. Except them others acquire Spinal Stenosis during their life. As the age increases the risk factor of getting Spinal Stenosis increases.

Previous Spine Surgery – Previous Spine Surgery is another risk factor that increases the risk of getting Spinal Stenosis. If you have undergone spine surgery, and after that if you have not taken precaution, then the chance of Spinal Stenosis is more in your case. Previous surgeries may leave your bones, ligaments and spines weak. If they have not healed properly, then you are sure to get it back. Surgeries may leave some damage to the bones, spines, ligaments and nerves. In such cases the risk factor is more.