Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the canal that holds the spinal cord and nerves. It develops slowly with age and arthritis. Treatment depends on how much it limits you, not on how the MRI looks.
Medically reviewed by Adrian P. Jackson, MD, board-certified, fellowship-trained spine surgeon · Updated November 2026
Appointments are scheduled through workers’ compensation referrals in Kansas and Missouri.
Spinal stenosis means the spinal canal has narrowed, most often from arthritis, thickened ligaments and bulging discs. In the low back it causes leg pain, heaviness or numbness with standing and walking. In the neck it can press on the spinal cord and affect the hands and balance.
Mild stenosis is managed with physical therapy, medication and injections. When symptoms limit walking or daily life, surgery to open the canal (a laminectomy) reliably relieves the pressure.
Over the years the discs lose height, the small joints of the spine enlarge and the ligaments thicken. Each change takes a little room from the canal. Eventually the nerves are crowded.
In the low back, standing and walking narrow the canal further, so the legs ache, tire or go numb. Sitting or leaning forward, for example over a shopping cart, opens the canal and brings relief. That pattern is the hallmark of lumbar stenosis.
In the neck, stenosis can compress the spinal cord. That condition is called cervical myelopathy and is treated differently, because the spinal cord does not tolerate pressure the way nerve roots do.
Aching, cramping or tiredness in the buttocks and legs that builds the farther you walk.
Symptoms ease within minutes of sitting. Leaning on a cart or walker lets you go farther.
In the legs or feet, often in both legs.
These point to stenosis in the neck and should be evaluated promptly.
Poor circulation in the legs can also cause leg pain with walking. The difference: circulation pain eases when you simply stop and stand still. Stenosis pain usually needs you to sit or bend forward. An examination and imaging tell the two apart.
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These can signal pressure on the nerves or spinal cord that should not wait. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Stenosis does not always get worse. Many people manage it for years without surgery.
Flexion-based exercises, core strengthening and staying active. A stationary bike is often comfortable because it keeps the spine bent forward.
Anti-inflammatory and nerve-pain medication when appropriate for your health.
Injections can reduce leg symptoms for weeks to months and help you stay active.
A lumbar laminectomy removes the bone and ligament crowding the nerves. If the spine is also unstable, a fusion may be added at the same time.
This animation shows where the nerves are crowded and how removing a small amount of bone and ligament gives them room again.
Most of our patients go home the same day after a lumbar decompression. The recovery guide covers each week.
Your surgeons
Board-certified, fellowship-trained spine surgeon
Dr. Jackson has practiced spine surgery in the Kansas City area for more than 20 years. He treats both the neck and the low back, and he operates exclusively on an outpatient basis using minimally invasive techniques.
Board-certified, fellowship-trained spine surgeon
Dr. Ciccarelli specializes in the lumbar spine, including fusion for spondylolisthesis and other conditions where the spine needs to be stabilized.
No. Many people control their symptoms with exercise, medication and occasional injections. Surgery is considered when leg symptoms limit walking and daily activities despite that care, or when there is weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control.
It changes slowly. Some people stay the same for years, some gradually worsen and some improve. Sudden worsening is uncommon and should be checked.
Decompression surgery is one of the more reliable operations in spine care for relieving leg pain and improving walking distance. It is less predictable for back pain alone, which is why the decision is based mainly on leg symptoms.
Most patients walk the day of surgery and go home the same day. Our routine protocol allows full-time work with restrictions at about 6 weeks and full activity at about 12 weeks.
A herniated disc is a single event where disc material presses on a nerve, often in younger adults. Stenosis is a gradual narrowing from arthritis, usually after age 50. Both can cause leg pain, and they can occur together.
This page is general education. It does not replace an examination, and it is not medical advice for your situation. If you have severe or sudden symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Premier Spine Care schedules appointments through workers’ compensation referrals in Kansas and Missouri. Case managers, adjusters and law offices can send a referral online, and the appointment is scheduled within 24 hours. If you were hurt at work, ask your adjuster or case manager about a referral.
Premier Spine Care · Overland Park and Lenexa, Kansas · Serving the Kansas City metro in Kansas and Missouri
