Lumbar stenosis is the compression of spinal nerves caused by the narrowing of the spinal canal. It is one of the more common causes of lower back and leg pain as we age.
The leading causes of spinal stenosis are development of osteoarthritis (particularly of the facet joints), disc degeneration and thickening of ligaments (ligamentum flavum) that lead to spinal canal narrowing.
Low back pain with leg heaviness, numbness, or weakness while walking or standing; which can be relieved by sitting or bending forward.
The first step to diagnose lumbar stenosis is to perform a thorough physical examination and carefully consider your medical and family history.
Some of the treatments for lumbar stenosis include:
Physical therapy
Anti-inflammatory medications
Steroid injections
Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (mild procedure) [find out more]