Lumbar Spinal Stenosis - What is It?

spinal stenosis

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis is a condition which presents with pain down the legs, with or without pain in the lower back or buttock region. In addition to pain, numbness, weakness and heaviness can also be felt in the same region.

NB It is important to note that the term Spinal Stenosis is also given to similar problems with the Neck. This is referred to as Cervical Spinal Stenosis.

What is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?

Along the length of the spine, from the base of your skull to your lower back, there is a pathway which the spinal cord/nerves pass through. This pathway is referred to as the spinal canal. As the nerves pass down the spinal canal, some of them leave the spine at different levels to form peripheral nerves, which themselves pass around the whole body.

Sometimes, the spinal canal through which the spinal cord/nerves pass can become narrowed. When this occurs, increased pressure is placed upon the nerves. Under these conditions, their function can become compromised and specific signs and symptoms result.

This narrowing can occur for several reasons, but primarily it is a result of degenerative changes which take place upon the vertebra of the lumbar spine.

What are the Signs & Symptoms of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?

The classic signs & symptoms which are felt with those suffering with lumbar spinal stenosis is that of pain radiating down the legs, with or without low back/buttock pain. In addition to this, feelings of weakness/numbness/heaviness may also be felt.

A classic functional limitation with Spinal Stenosis is pain and weakness on walking and leaning backwards. With regards to walking, increased pain and weakness is felt sometimes after only a very short distance e.g. a few metres. However, almost immediate relief can be gained by leaning forward or sitting down and resting forward upon your thighs. It is this ability to almost immediately 'turn off' the pain which would contribute to a diagnosis of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, although I must stress this is not a diagnostic test and a thorough assessment and investigations such as an MRI would need to take place to confirm the diagnosis.

How can Lumbar Spinal Stenosis be treated?

This depends ultimately upon the cause of the stenosis present, although the severity will also play a part as well. If the symptoms are quite mild and there are also other contributing factors, such as stiffness and inflammation present, an appropriate exercise programme and medication can be enough to settle the signs and symptoms down.

However, if the signs & symptoms are quite severe and the main cause of the stenosis is bony degenerative changes, exercise therapy and medication may only have a little influence. Under these circumstances it is likely you will need to see a consultant and further investigations, such as an MRI, may need to take place.

Finally, before I finish, it is important I note that Lumbar Spinal Stenosis can be quite easily confused with other conditions, namely i) sciatica - which is caused by problems such as tight muscles, facet joint irritation or a disc bulge/herniation and ii) intermittent claudication. I discuss these problems and the possible mis-diagnoses between them in my article titled "Lumbar Spinal Stenosis - Do I have it?"