Is this what Spinal Stenosis feels like? | The Clinic: Episode 1

What does spinal stenosis feel like? The hallmark of spinal stenosis is pain or heaviness in the legs with walking; there may be associated electrical pain as well as back ache. The pain with walking, electrical sensation, and backache are all relieved particularly by bending over, as well as resting in general. Jon’s description of his symptoms is the classic picture of spinal stenosis. “It starts in my back and then goes all the way down my legs.” Everyone is different; however, anyone with spinal stenosis will have some combination of: 1.) Pain down the legs while walking Spinal stenosis constricts the space around the nerve roots in the spinal canal which causes pain down the legs while walking. The electrical pain, or fullness you feel in the legs while walking, is relieved by bending forward. That is because by bending forward, the spinal canal opens up and makes more room. People with spinal stenosis can often become aware of it first in the grocery store; if they lean on a cart, they can walk further. 2.) Nerve root problems with weakness, numbness, and loss of reflexes In addition to pain with walking, spinal stenosis causes pain to shoot down the leg. Narrowing of the side of the spinal canal, or of the passages through which the nerve roots pass, causes nerve root compression. You feel a shooting pain in the area controlled by the compressed nerve root. Your doctor may find numbness and weakness on examination as well.