What Is Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces in the spinal canal, which is the space that contains the vertebrae, spinal cord, spinal discs, nerves, and other tissues. The narrowing is typically caused by arthritis or injury.
What Are Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is treated with medications, lifestyle options, and surgery. Spinal stenosis does not always cause symptoms, especially early on. When symptoms do occur, they may include:
Back pain Tingling, numbness, or cramping that spreads down the legsUsually affects both legs, but symptoms may be worse in one leg Sharp pain from the buttocks going down into the legs (sciatica)Loss of sensation in the feetFoot weakness that causes the foot to slap down when walking (foot drop)Loss of sexual abilitySymptoms usually worsen when walking or standing upright and improve when sitting or bending forward at the waist.
Symptoms of severe cases of spinal stenosis (cauda equine syndrome) that require immediate medical attention include:
Leg weakness Trouble controlling the bowels or bladder Severe or increasing numbness between the legs, inner thighs, and back of the legsSevere pain and weakness spreading into one or both legs that cause difficulty walking or getting up from a chair