# Difference between stenosis (horizontal) and compression (vertical?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 2, 2023, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-stenosis-horizontal-and-compression-vertical/983453 "2023-05-02T08:01:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2023, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-stenosis-horizontal-and-compression-vertical/983453/1 "2023-05-02T08:01:59Z")
Got an X-ray and the doctor said I had cervical stenosis - however, my issue apparently is not the spinal cord region getting narrower (a **horizontal** constriction) but rather, that the vertebrae have compressed together (a **vertical** constriction.) Am I mis-reading the word “stenosis” or does it encompass all forms of nerve compression, whether horizontal or vertical? ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2023, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-stenosis-horizontal-and-compression-vertical/983453/2 "2023-05-02T11:00:46Z")
Perhaps they mean vertical collapse is driving disks inward to compress the cord horizontally? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2023, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-stenosis-horizontal-and-compression-vertical/983453/3 "2023-05-02T15:57:01Z")
Compression can narrow the spaces the nerves exit from. Stenosis narrows the whole spinal canal pressing on the nerves before they exit and the cord itself. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-stenosis-horizontal-and-compression-vertical/983453/4 "2023-05-03T18:18:34Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Am I mis-reading the word “stenosis” or does it encompass all forms of nerve compression, whether horizontal or vertical? According to this site, you are misreading. [Cervical Stenosis - Neurosurgery](https://med.virginia.edu/neurosurgery/services/spine-surgery/cervical-stenosis/#:~:text=Definition,the%20spinal%20canal%20(radiculopathy)). Any compression on the spinal nerves is stenosis, whether from disc compression or arthritic buildup or other. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-stenosis-horizontal-and-compression-vertical/983453/5 "2023-05-03T18:37:04Z")
Not sure what you are reading but your cite reads: “ Cervical stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal is too small for the spinal cord and nerve roots. This can cause damage to the spinal cord, a condition called _myelopathy,_ or pinch nerves as they exit the spinal canal (_radiculopathy)_” The spinal cord is not the same as the nerve roots. Compression can eventually result in stenosis but usually compressed the nerves’ exits first (radiculopathy). ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-stenosis-horizontal-and-compression-vertical/983453/6 "2023-05-03T21:45:40Z")
Of course the spinal cord and nerve roots aren’t the same thing. That’s why the quote you cited says “and”. From the link: > [@](#): > > Cervical stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal is too small for the spinal cord and nerve roots. This can cause damage to the spinal cord, a condition called _myelopathy,_ or pinch nerves as they exit the spinal canal (_radiculopathy)._ > > [Snip] > > Factors contributing to the development of cervical stenosis include: shorter than average _pedicles_ (the bones which form the sides of the spinal canal), degenerative arthritis causing excessive bone growth, increased in size of the _ligamentum flavum_ (a ligament which runs down the underside of the roof of the spinal canal), and conditions such rheumatoid arthritis and _ossification_ (abnormally turning into bone) of the ligament that forms the floor of the spinal canal. Another page > **[Cervical Spinal Stenosis](https://www.massgeneral.org/orthopaedics/spine/conditions-and-treatments/cervical-spinal-stenosis)** > > Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal. As the spinal canal narrows, it puts pressure on the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots. > [@](#): > > Spine degeneration is the most common cause of cervical spinal stenosis. As the disk degenerates, it loses water content. So as we age, our disks dry out and weaken, which causes the disk space around our vertebrae to collapse. As this collapse takes place, weight and extra pressure is put on our joints behind the spinal cord and the tunnel that our spinal nerves exit through becomes smaller. Disk compression is a cause of stenosis. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-stenosis-horizontal-and-compression-vertical/983453/7 "2023-05-03T22:35:14Z")
I think there is talking past each other. Spinal stenosis is narrowing _of the spinal canal_. Stop there. It may be caused by compression or other causes. It may be associated with myelopathy or radiculopathy or not. Compression is not spinal stenosis. Compression may, fairly commonly, cause pinching the nerves (radiculopathy) as they exit the spinal canal through the exit openings - the forimina - that compression is not spinal stenosis, it is not narrowing of the spinal canal. If you wanted to call that foriminal stenosis you could but I do not believe that is a phrase in common use. Compression can be a cause of spinal stenosis; it is not itself spinal stenosis. Make sense? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-stenosis-horizontal-and-compression-vertical/983453/8 "2023-05-04T02:18:25Z")
In everyday usage, I would say there is no meaningful distinction. I’ve had two operations to repair damage in my spine, formally called Lumbar Interbody Fusion with Laminectomy. Now the same thing is happening with the next set of vertebrae. I’ve had it called stenosis and spinal arthritis and other things I can’t remember offhand, all by doctors. What do I have? Well, my vertebrae have compressed together and I generally have constrictions in most tunnels including the spinal cord. I don’t think I could have one or the other at this point; it’s both. My experience is that doctors will call it stenosis as a general term and only get into technical language if you ask them about x-rays or other images. And probably not even then. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-stenosis-horizontal-and-compression-vertical/983453/9 "2023-05-04T03:11:16Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > In everyday usage, I would say there is no meaningful distinction. Oh there are very significant distinctions and different meaning even the words can be used in ways that do not communicate them. In YOUR specific case, compressions and arthritis between the vertebrae had resulted in narrowing of the spinal canal (stenosis), which then was compressing on the nerve roots (radiculopathy) or the spinal cord itself (myelopathy). The nerves may also have been compressed exiting the forimina. You would not have the result without the cause(s), but that does not mean that the cause IS the result. @Irishman stated that @Velocity was misreading to understand that compressions between the vertebrae was vertical squeeze while spinal stenosis was a horizontal narrowing (of the canal itself). That is simply not factual. Sure they often go together like eggs and bacon but they are still separate items. It is completely possible for @Velocity to have vertebral compression (vertically), with pain, without any spinal stenosis, without any narrowing of the canal. I have no idea if that is or is not the case. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2023, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-stenosis-horizontal-and-compression-vertical/983453/10 "2023-05-04T03:20:12Z")
What you’re saying is very plausible. When I said “everyday usage” I was not trying to answer the OP’s question formally, however, simply that none of the doctors I’ve seen have used those terms in communicating with me. Maybe they’re in the formal notes I don’t get to see, but that does me little good as a patient.