Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Quiz
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Lower back pain
Leg or foot numbness
Neck pain
Buttock pain
Tingling sensation in the legs
Numb feet
Back pain radiating to the feet
Arms are numb
Leg cramps
Legs feel heavy
Long period of standing worsens back pain
Back pain reduces when seated
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back. Stenosis, meaning narrowing, can put pressure on the spinal cord or the nerves that connect the spinal cord to muscles.
Typical Symptoms of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
- Lower back pain that improves when bending forward or sitting
- Tingling or pricking numbness or pain in the legs that improves after a period of rest
- Numbness of the thigh
- Numbness anywhere from the knees to the ankles
- Unable to lie on the back due to pain
- Lower back pain when standing up straight
- Difficulty walking normally
- Numbness or tingling in your legs or feet
Diagnostic Questions for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Does your lower back pain improve when you bend forward or sit?
- Are you able to exercise again after your pain and numbness improve with rest?
- Do your thighs feel numb?
- Do you have numbness in your lower legs?
- Does lying on your back make the pain worse?
Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Treatment involves medical and surgical intervention. Medications may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that alleviate pain and swelling, and steroid injections that reduce swelling. Surgical treatments include removing bone spurs and widening the space between vertebrae.
Reviewed By:
Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc (Family Medicine, Primary Care)
Dr. Taylor is a Japanese-African American physician who grew up and was educated in the United States but spent a considerable amount of time in Japan as a college student, working professional and now father of three. After graduating from Brown, he worked in finance first before attending medical school at Penn. He then completed a fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control before going on to specialize in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he was also a chief resident. After a faculty position at Stanford, he moved with his family to Japan where he continues to see families on a military base outside of Tokyo, teach Japanese residents and serve remotely as a medical director for Roots Community Health Center. He also enjoys editing and writing podcast summaries for Hippo Education.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Feb 3, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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- Lower back pain gets worse when lying down
- Lying on back causes pain
- Back hurts lying in bed too long
- Back pain worsens when lying down
- Lying on my side hurts my back
- I can't lay flat on my back
Symptoms Related to Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Diseases Related to Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
FAQs
Q.
Leg Pain? Why Stenosis Pinches Nerves & Medical Next Steps
A.
Leg pain from lumbar spinal stenosis happens when age related narrowing of the spinal canal and foramina from arthritis, thickened ligaments, or disc bulges compresses nerve roots, causing pain, tingling, heaviness, or weakness that worsens with standing or walking and eases with sitting or leaning forward. Most people start with conservative care including physical therapy, activity and posture changes, and medications, with epidural steroid injections for select cases, while surgery is considered if symptoms persist or disability progresses and any bowel or bladder changes, severe leg weakness, or groin numbness require urgent care. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more.
References:
* Deyo RA, Mirza SK. Lumbar spinal stenosis. BMJ. 2016 Jan 28;352:i445. doi: 10.1136/bmj.i445. PMID: 26823528.
* Tomkins-Lane CC, et al. Neurogenic Claudication Due to Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Clinical Overview. Spine J. 2017 Jul;17(7):1063-1076. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2017.03.012. Epub 2017 Mar 21. PMID: 28336307.
* Genevay S, Atlas SJ. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. Semin Neurol. 2019 Aug;39(4):439-447. doi: 10.1055/s-0039-1693001. Epub 2019 Jul 25. PMID: 31349544.
* Kreiner DS, et al. An Evidence-Based Clinical Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. Spine J. 2020 Jun;20(6):851-872. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2020.01.002. Epub 2020 Feb 21. PMID: 32087265.
* Kwon Y, Kim H, Shin H, Jung K, Lee JW, Kim IS, Park KH, Kim H. Recent Updates in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. Asian Spine J. 2023 Feb;17(1):154-164. doi: 10.31616/asj.2022.0150. Epub 2023 Jan 30. PMID: 36809710.
Q.
Spine Slipping? Why Spondylolisthesis Hurts & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Spondylolisthesis explained simply: a vertebra slips forward, often in the lower back, causing pain from nerve compression and spinal instability; many cases are mild and improve with physical therapy, activity modification, anti inflammatory medications, and sometimes epidural steroid injections. Surgery is reserved for persistent pain, progressing slippage, or neurologic deficits, and urgent red flags like new bladder or bowel problems need emergency care. There are several factors to consider for your next steps, including the type and grade, symptoms, and imaging findings; see below for complete, medically approved guidance that can impact what you do next.
References:
* Chou, D., & An, H. S. (2021). Understanding the pathogenesis of low back pain due to degenerative spondylolisthesis. *Journal of Spine Surgery*, *7*(1), 101–110.
* Rihn, J. A., Gandhi, A., & Lee, J. Y. (2022). Lumbar Spondylolisthesis: A Comprehensive Review. *Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global Research & Reviews*, *6*(4), e22.00075.
* Deng, T., Wu, G., Wang, X., Hou, Z., Luo, C., & Xie, C. (2023). Management strategies for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. *Journal of Spine Surgery*, *9*(3), 297–313.
* Ali, R. M., & Qureshi, S. A. (2020). Spondylolisthesis: Pathophysiology and Treatment Approaches. *Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma*, *11*(S3), S341–S346.
* Patel, A. A., & Riew, K. D. (2021). Spondylolisthesis: A Review of Etiology, Pathophysiology, and Management. *Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine*, *14*(3), 223–232.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Wu L, Munakomi S, Cruz R. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. [Updated 2024 Jan 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531493/Katz JN, Zimmerman ZE, Mass H, Makhni MC. Diagnosis and Management of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Review. JAMA. 2022 May 3;327(17):1688-1699. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.5921. PMID: 35503342.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35503342/Timothy Deer, Dawood Sayed, John Michels, Youssef Josephson, Sean Li, Aaron K Calodney, A Review of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis with Intermittent Neurogenic Claudication: Disease and Diagnosis, Pain Medicine, Volume 20, Issue Supplement_2, December 2019, Pages S32–S44
https://academic.oup.com/painmedicine/article/20/Supplement_2/S32/5661169