Treatment 05 of 16
Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the space around the spinal nerves. In the lower back it often causes leg pain, numbness or heaviness that comes on with walking and eases on sitting or bending forward.
At a glance
With age, discs wear, joints thicken and ligaments stiffen. Together these can narrow the spinal canal and press on the nerves. It is most common in the lower back (lumbar canal stenosis) and can also happen in the neck.
Many people manage well with non-surgical care. When walking distance keeps shrinking or there is weakness, decompression surgery can free the nerves.
You may benefit from an assessment if you have:
An examination of strength, sensation, reflexes and walking, and an MRI to see where and how much the canal is narrowed. X-rays in different positions check for instability.
Non-surgical options come first. Surgery is advised only when it is likely to help.
After treatment, the team builds a recovery plan around you.
Standing straight narrows the spinal canal a little more and squeezes the nerves; sitting or bending forward opens it. This pattern is typical of lumbar canal stenosis.
Age alone is not a reason to avoid surgery. The decision depends on your general health, how much the stenosis limits you and the results of the scans. Minimally invasive decompression is often suitable.
Not always. Fusion is added only when the narrowed level is unstable or slipped. Many people need decompression alone.
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