What are the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis?

What are the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis?

Early lumbar spinal stenosis may have no symptoms. In most people, symptoms develop gradually over time. Symptoms may include: Pain in the back. Burning pain going into the buttocks and down into the legs (sciatica) Numbness, tingling, cramping, or weakness in the legs. Loss of sensation in the feet.

Can a narrowing of the spinal canal cause stenosis?

Stop Treating Only the Inflammation Spinal stenosis is caused by a narrowing of your spinal canal, and this narrowing can irritate the nerves that travel down your legs. Symptoms are typically worse with walking and better with sitting down or bending forward.

How can I lower my risk of lumbar spinal stenosis?

Because almost everyone has some osteoarthritis of the spine by age 50, you can’t really prevent lumbar spinal stenosis. But you may be able to lower your risk. Here are some ways to keep your spine healthy: Get regular exercise. Exercise strengthens the muscles that support your lower back and helps keep your spine flexible.

How does spinal stenosis affect your feet and legs?

Spinal stenosis in your lumbar region can affect your feet and legs. Examples of this include: Foot drop. Nerve compression in your spine can cause weakness in your foot, causing it to slap the ground as you walk. Sciatica. This causes sharp pain and weakness in your legs, usually one leg at a time. Neurogenic claudication.

What are the symptoms of severe spinal stenosis?

Symptoms of spinal stenosis caused by compression of the nerves include pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness along the path of the nerve being compressed. Symptoms of spinal stenosis that develops in the neck include myelopathy, numbness, tingling, weakness, or cramping in the arms and hands.

What are the best exercises for stenosis?

The best exercises for your spinal stenosis are those that involve smooth motion and are low impact. Examples of good exercises include swimming, exercising on an elliptical trainer and walking. The bent-forward position on a bicycle opens up the spinal canal, temporarily helping to reduce the pressure on your spinal nerves.

What is treatment for severe stenosis?

While conventional treatments for stenosis include taking medications to lower inflammation or pain — and sometimes in severe cases spinal surgery — natural treatments including exercise, stretching, physical therapy and warming/icing the painful area can also be highly effective.

What is the outcome of spinal stenosis?

Without appropriate treatment, spinal stenosis can lead to permanent nerve damage, paralysis and even death. When spinal canal narrowing is causing spinal cord compression this needs treating right away to decompress the spine and reduce the likelihood of significant and intractable damage.