Stenosis is narrowing. What makes it a problem is not the measurement on the scan but what happens when you walk.
What it is
The spinal canal or the foramina narrow, usually from a combination of disc bulging, facet enlargement and ligament thickening.
The hallmark is neurogenic claudication — leg pain and heaviness on walking, relieved by sitting or leaning forward.
How it usually presents
- Leg pain, heaviness or numbness that comes on after a predictable walking distance.
- Relief on sitting, or on leaning over a shopping trolley.
- Better walking uphill than downhill, because flexion opens the canal.
- Back pain, often less prominent than the leg symptoms.
How we treat it
- Epidural steroid injection to reduce inflammation in a tight canal.
- Physical therapy emphasising flexion-based exercise and walking tolerance.
- Surgical referral where walking distance is severely limited despite treatment.
To be assessed, call (314) 310-5577 or request an appointment. If this began with a crash or a fall, see accident and injury care.
Common questions
What exercises should I avoid?
Sustained extension — repeated backward bending, prone press-ups and overhead lifting with an arched back tend to provoke it. Flexion-based work is usually better tolerated.
Does stenosis always get worse?
Not necessarily. Symptoms often fluctuate over years rather than declining steadily.
Hurt in an accident? Start here.
You do not need a lawyer, a police report or a referral to be seen. Bring your symptoms and we will work out the rest.
Or text (314) 886-5902 · Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.