Foraminal stenosis, or narrowing, occurs when the open passageways between the spinal vertebrae (foramina) are encroached upon by displaced bone or soft tissue, often due to degenerative changes in parts of the spine. Spinal nerve roots must travel through these small, hollow archways as they branch away from the spinal cord to reach other areas of the body. If a spinal foramen is obstructed, a sensitive nerve root can become compressed. The resulting pressure on the nerve root can cause it to send faulty signals along its pathway in the form of pain, numbness, tingling, weakness or muscle spasms.

Foraminal stenosis causes

Most often, foraminal stenosis results from spinal degeneration that occurs along with the natural aging process. The gradual deterioration of the spinal vertebrae and discs can lead to a number of degenerative spine conditions such as bone spurs, a herniated or bulging disc, arthritis, ligament thickening and facet joint enlargement.

Additionally, spinal injuries that result from trauma, repetitive movement or carrying excess body weight can hasten this process or cause spontaneous degeneration. The resulting structural changes in the spine can further limit the space within a foramen, causing it to become narrower so that there is less space available for exiting nerve roots.

Symptoms of foraminal stenosis

If foraminal stenosis creates pressure on the spinal cord or a spinal nerve root, a variety of symptoms can develop. The nature and location of the symptoms vary based on the site of the affected foramen. More specifically, the symptoms can be localized or they may travel through the peripheral nervous system and radiate along the path of an affected nerve root. For instance, foraminal stenosis in the cervical spine can lead to symptoms in the neck, shoulders, arms and hands.

On the other hand, nerve compression in the lumbar spine can cause symptoms in the lower back, hips, buttocks, legs and feet. The most usual cause of traveling pain in the lower body is the compression of the sciatic nerve. This leads to a set of symptoms known as sciatica (pain, tingling, weakness and numbness that radiates along the sciatic nerve that runs down the buttocks, along the back of the thighs and calves and into the feet).

Foraminal stenosis treatments

Prior to considering surgical intervention, your doctor may recommend for you to try a course of conservative treatments. This may include:

• Pain medication
• Epidural steroid injections
• Physical therapy
• Chiropractic care
• Anti-inflammatories

However, if several weeks or months of nonsurgical treatments proves ineffective in providing you with relief, contact USA Spine Care. Our minimally invasive spine surgery has helped thousands of patients each year find relief from chronic neck or back pain and we are confident that we can help you on the road to recovery.

Send your imaging tests to USA Spine Care for free MRI review.* A member of our team will be in touch with you to discuss your condition and determine if you are a potential candidate for our foraminal stenosis surgery.

Browse Related Resources