Common Symptoms
Symptoms will gradually become noticeable, then intensify and worsen over time. Usually, one side or the other of the body is affected, not both. As the symptoms progress, if not treated, they can become intensely painful, and if the injury to the nerve is serious enough, it may kill the nerve, or make healing impossible. Symptoms are more likely to be present or get worse when you stand or walk upright. They will often lessen or disappear when you sit down or lean forward. Most people with spinal stenosis cannot walk for a long period of time.
What it Feels Like
- Numbness, cramping, or pain in the back, buttocks,
thighs, or calves, or in the neck, shoulders, or arms - Weakness of a portion of a leg or arm
- Difficulty or imbalance when walking
- Problems urinating or having a bowel movement
