Spinal Stenosis (Page 4)
These differences in anatomy may result in similar symptoms, which is why all forms of stenosis are typically referred to as simply ‘spinal stenosis’. However, if surgery is to be performed, the differences are very important in guiding the surgeon. That is, the bad spot(s) must be exactly known in advance to guide the approach for its proper treatment or removal.
Spinal stenosis symptoms
Generally speaking, the various types of spinal stenosis produce similar symptoms. Leg pain (sciatica) often with some low back pain, leg numbness and tingling, with limitations, in walking are together the most common symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis.
Leg pain with walking (claudication) can be caused by either arterial circulatory insufficiency (vascular claudication) or from spinal stenosis (neurogenic or pseudo-claudication). Leg pain from either condition will go away with rest, but with spinal stenosis the patient usually has to sit down for a few minutes to ease the leg and often low back pain, whereas leg pain from vascular claudication will go away if the patient simply stops walking.
Although occasionally the symptoms and leg pain from spinal stenosis will come on acutely, they generally develop over the course of several years. The longer a patient with spinal stenosis stands or walks the worse the leg pain will get.
