Re: Spinal stenosis/Foraminal stenosis?
Stenosis means something is constricted. Spinal stenosis means something somewhere in your spine is constricted. In its usual context, it means the spinal canal. Foraminal stenosis means the foramen is constricted. The foramen is the opening between the vertebrae where the spinal nerves exit. Foraminal stenosis is one cause of radiculopathy - nerve problems with the extremities (arms, legs, etc). Spinal canal stenosis in the neck causes myelopathy - pressure on and damage to the spinal cord. Spinal canal stenosis in the lumbar area causes radiculopathy, as the spinal cord actually ends around L1/L2 and the spinal canal is carrying just peripheral nerves below that.