Understanding spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a progressive condition that represents approximately 5% of all back disease. Symptoms usually appear around age 50 to 60 and lead to increasing pain and disability as the condition progresses. Understanding the disorder, appropriate diagnostic tests, and treatment options is essential to providing appropriate nursing care and education for this patient population. Included in this article is a review of normal spine anatomy, pathology and symptoms of spinal stenosis, treatment options, appropriate nursing interventions, and patient education for the patient with spinal stenosis.