Lumbar Stenosis can cause shooting leg pain or cramping.
Lumbar Stenosis is when there is narrowing of the area where the nerves run in the back.
**Please note, if you have stenosis and have a loss of bowel/bladder function or saddle anesthesia, please go to your local emergency room as this is an emergency (Cauda Equina Syndrome).
If the narrowing is pressing on a nerve(s) it can cause dysfunction, pain, problems with walking, bowel/bladder issues, numbness, and weakness.
Stenosis can occur due to bone spurs, bony instability, disc herniation, calcification of tissue, thickening of certain soft tissues, etc.
Diagnosis
The success of treatment options depend on an accurate diagnosis, using a combination of but not limited to: physical exam, x-ray, CT scan, MRI, diagnostic injections, and EMG investigation.
Treatment
Treatment options include anti-inflammatories, steroids, physical therapy, weight loss (to lessen the load your back carries), core strengthening, injections, surgical decompression, surgical fusion, or surgical disc replacement. All treatment options depend on the location/type of stenosis and a custom treatment plan is recommended for each and every patient.
Treatments that release the pressure don’t necessarily reverse the damage, but the goal is to halt progression. Think of a boxer’s punch: just because the fist is no longer connected, it may have caused permanent damage.
Compression of the nerve sac in the lumbar spine (MRI)
