Lumbar Stenosis

When spinal stenosis affects the spinal nerves as they run through the foramina (bony opening on each side of the lower spine), the condition is referred to as foraminal stenosis. Narrowing of the spine that encroaches on the spinal canal is also possible and is called central canal stenosis. Foraminal and central canal stenosis can occur at the same time, causing overlapping symptoms. When lumbar spinal stenosis occurs in conjunction with stenosis at a different level, such as in the cervical spine (neck) or thoracic spine (middle back), it is called tandem stenosis.