Spinal stenosis differential diagnosis
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohamadmostafa Jahansouz M.D.[2]
Overview
Spinal stenosis must be differentiated from other diseases that cause lower extremity pain and back pain , such as: Intervertebral disk herniation, metastatic disease of the spine, vertebral osteomyelitis or discitis, degenerative disk disease, compression fracture, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, Mechanical low back pain, Rheumatoid arthritis and primary spinal, intradural, or intramedullary tumor. The relieving of the pain by spinal flexion (e.g sitting, cycling) is specific for spinal stenosis and is the key point for differentiation of spinal stenosis from other common causes of lower extremity pain and back pain. The pain of spinal stenosis is usually associated with activity and walking, as lumbar extension during activity worsens the narrowing of the spinal canal.
Differentiating spinal stenosis from other Diseases
- Spinal stenosis must be differentiated from other diseases that cause lower extremity pain and back pain , such as: Intervertebral disk herniation, metastatic disease of the spine, vertebral osteomyelitis or discitis, degenerative disk disease, compression fracture, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, Mechanical low back pain, Rheumatoid arthritis and primary spinal, intradural, or intramedullary tumor.
- The relieving of the pain by spinal flexion (e.g sitting, cycling) is specific for spinal stenosis and is the key point for differentiation of spinal stenosis from other common causes of lower extremity pain and back pain.[1][2][3]
- The pain of spinal stenosis is usually associated with activity and walking, as lumbar extension during activity worsens the narrowing of the spinal canal. [1][2][3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Genevay S, Atlas SJ (2010). “Lumbar spinal stenosis”. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 24 (2): 253–65. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2009.11.001. PMC 2841052. PMID 20227646.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ammendolia C (2014). “Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and its imposters: three case studies”. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 58 (3): 312–9. PMC 4139768. PMID 25202160.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Babb A, Carlson WO (2006). “Spinal stenosis”. S D Med. 59 (3): 103–5. PMID 16566302.
© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH