Back pain constant? Could be Spinal Stenosis!
When back pain is constant or slowly gets worse, the cause could be spinal stenosis, says the January issue of the “Mayo Clinic Health Letter”.
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of one or more areas of the spine. There are different types of problems that can decrease the space inside the spinal canal, but most are related to age.
One cause is osteoarthritis, which results from wear of the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in joints. Osteoarthritis in the spine may narrow the space between the vertebrae and forming bony growths or bulging disc cause. The bony surfaces may rub together, resulting in pain and inflammation.
The degeneration of the discs is another common cause of spinal stenosis. With age, the padding between the vertebrae is flattened and protrudes. The outer covering of the disc could end up tearing, allowing the jelly-like substance in the center of the disc bulge and press the spinal cord and nerve roots. The result can be a pain that starts in the buttocks and radiates down the leg.