• Are older than age 50.
• Have a history of spinal injury.
• Have arthritis of the spine, which can damage the joints.
• Have a bone disease that may soften the spinal bones or cause calcium deposits to form. Examples include:
  • Paget's disease.
  • Ankylosing spondylitis.
• Are born with spondylolysis.
• Have an abnormally narrow spinal canal, which may be inherited or may develop in curvature of the spine (scoliosis).
• Have a genetic (inherited) disorder in which the bones of the arms and legs don't grow to normal size and the vertebrae of the spine don't grow normally (achondroplastic dwarfism).
• Have had lower back surgery, which may cause scarring that puts pressure on the spinal nerves. Progressive spinal stenosis may occur, even after successful back surgery.

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