Lumbar spinal stenosis means narrowing around the nerves in the lower back.
What does it feel like?
You may develop pain, aching, heaviness, tingling or weakness in one or both legs. Symptoms often become worse while standing or walking and improve when sitting or leaning forwards. Some people also have lower back pain.
Similar symptoms can have other causes, so an assessment matters.
How is it diagnosed?
Professor Bateman will ask about your symptoms and walking distance, examine you and review an MRI when appropriate. The amount of narrowing on a scan does not always match how much trouble it causes; your symptoms remain central to treatment decisions.
What can help?
Treatment depends on how much the condition affects you. Options may include activity changes, exercise, physiotherapy and medication. If leg symptoms remain severe, lumbar decompression may create more space for the nerves. In selected cases, another procedure may also be needed to stabilise the spine.
The main aim of decompression is to improve nerve-related leg symptoms and walking. Relief of lower back pain is often possible but less predictable.
Read about lumbar decompression →
