Causes of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
The cause of spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine is commonly associated with aging. The facet joints (small stabilizing joints located between and behind vertebrae) tend to get larger as they degenerate and can compress the spinal nerve roots in the lower back, often producing lumbar stenosis symptoms of pain, especially with activity.

While rare, it is also possible for degenerative lumbar stenosis to develop in younger people who have a curvature of the spinal canal or suffer a spinal injury.

Generally, patients with lumbar spine stenosis are comfortable sitting, but standing upright further decreases the space available for the nerve roots and can block the outflow of blood from around the nerve. Congested blood then irritates the nerve, causing pain. It is important to note that lumbar stenosis that causes severe nerve damage is rare and that surgery is almost always the patient’s decision.