Understanding Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

What It Looks Like on Imaging

X-rays can show some of the bony changes associated with stenosis — such as narrowed disc spaces, bone spurs, and vertebral slippage (spondylolisthesis). Flexion and extension X-rays (taken while bending forward and leaning back) help your doctor assess whether there is instability — meaning the vertebrae shift more than they should during movement. However, X-rays cannot show the nerves themselves, so MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is needed for a complete picture.

An MRI allows your doctor to see the spinal canal and the nerves directly, confirming whether stenosis is present and how severe it is.

Normal Stenosis
MRI sagittal view of a normal lumbar spine MRI sagittal view showing lumbar spinal stenosis

These are illustrative images, not actual MRI scans.