What are the tests for spinal stenosis?

History&MRI: Spinal stenosis is best seen on mri. However, unless there are correlating symptoms by history, it is just a radiographic finding. If a patient has correlating sciatica that is worse with standing/walking, better with bending forward or sitting, then spinal stenosis on MRI can be implicated in the disease condition of neurogenic claudition. Neurogenic claudication is what warrants treatment.

Imaging: The most accurate test is a ct scan for assessing the size of the spinal canal to determine if it fits the criteria for spinl stenosis followed by a mri. However, one has to have the clinical symptoms and/or findings to make a clinical diagnosis of spinal stenosis since a lot of people with positive imaging findings have no clinical symptoms or findings

MRI, myelogram: Xrays can give a general idea, but don't really show the inside of the canal itself. Typically, either an MRI, ct scan, or ct scan combined with a myelogram will show the details about the severity of the spinal stenosis.