Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

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Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back, also known as the lumbar area. This usually happens when bone or tissue—or both—grow in the openings of the spinal bones. This growth can squeeze and irritate nerves that branch out from the spinal cord. The result can be pain, numbness or weakness, most often in the legs, feet and buttocks.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is most often caused by changes that can happen as people age, such as:

• Connective tissues (ligaments) getting thicker
• Arthritis, leading to the growth of bony spurs that push on the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord
• Discs between the bones pushing backward into the spinal canal

Your doctor can tell if you have it by asking questions about your symptoms and past health and by doing a physical exam. You will probably need imaging tests such as an MRI, a CT scan and sometimes X-rays.

Symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis may include:

• Numbness, weakness, cramping or pain in the legs, feet or buttocks. These symptoms may get worse when you walk, stand straight or lean backward. The pain usually gets better when you sit down or lean forward.
• Stiffness in the legs and thighs
• Lower back pain
• In severe cases, loss of bladder and bowel control

Symptoms may be severe at times and less bad at other times. Most people are not severely disabled. In fact, many people do not have symptoms at all.

You can most likely control mild to moderate symptoms with pain medicines, exercise and physical therapy.

Your doctor may also give you a spinal shot of corticosteroid, a medicine that reduces inflammation. You may need surgery if your symptoms get worse or if they limit what you can do. Surgery to remove bone and tissue that are squeezing the nerve roots can help relieve leg pain and allow you to resume normal activities. But it may not help back pain as much.