What causes spinal stenosis in someone who is 44? i also have lupus & ra. the pain has been debilitating for two weeks now, what are my options?

Many prospects: Stenosis may be caused by any structure that occupies space in the spinal canal leading to crowding of the nerve roots. This could include bulging/herniating discs, thickening of the joints or ligaments and the presence of cysts. This can occur with a single entity or any combination of structures. However, pain may also not be due to stenosis. It could be inflammation, poor blood flow, etc.

People are born with: Big, average or little feet & the same goes for spine canals. They all narrow with time but accelerated degeneration as from underlying arthritis conditions including synovial cysts or spinal instability like spondylolithesis or even from smoking can be implicated in this diagnosis at your age with 20% of population having findings by 60. See a spine specialist to review options based on causes?