Symptoms of SPINAL STENOSIS

In the neck, the symptoms include neck pain and pain radiating into the back of the head as well as the shoulder blades. Varying degrees of pain, weakness and numbness may occur in the arms. When the stenosis is severe, the spinal cord can be badly deformed. Unsteady gait, leg weakness and difficulties with urinating can occur. When the lumbar spine or low back is involved, the symptoms are principally in the legs. Pain, weakness and numbness can occur to varying degrees in the legs. Low back pain is usually present. The symptoms in the legs may be brought on or accentuated by standing or walking. Those symptoms brought on with exercise are referred to as neurogenic claudication. In severe cases, bowel and bladder function may become impaired and numbness may develop around the rectum and genitals.