You can walk less and less before your legs “stop obeying”, yet cycling or leaning on a shopping trolley feels fine? That is the classic picture of lumbar spinal stenosis — narrowing of the spinal canal — a condition of later decades, often manageable without surgery.
What is spinal stenosis?
As the spine degenerates (bulging discs, bone spurs, thickened ligaments), the space for the spinal cord and nerve roots narrows. In the lumbar spine this causes neurogenic claudication — leg pain and weakness when walking, relieved by bending forward and sitting. In the neck it can compress the cord (myelopathy) — unsteady walking, clumsy hands — a picture needing prompt neurosurgical review.
Common symptoms
Progressively shrinking walking distance, leg pain and numbness when walking or standing, characteristic relief when bending forward or sitting, and a back that feels “better” cycling than walking. Cervical: stiffness and pain; myelopathy signs mean immediate referral.
Common causes
Age-related degeneration (spondylosis, discs, ligaments), a congenitally narrow canal, spondylolisthesis and, rarely, other causes — screened at assessment.
Can it be treated without surgery?
In many cases, yes: flexion-based exercise, mobility and conditioning programmes improve symptoms and walking distance; studies show results comparable to surgery for many patients with moderate lumbar stenosis. Surgery is discussed for severe, progressive symptoms or myelopathy.
How we treat stenosis at Medicine Park
We assess your spine, walking distance, balance and neurological signs, then build the programme: flexion and decompression exercise, hip–spine mobility, dosed walking training (including cycling), adapted manual therapy and objective monitoring of walking distance — the metric that matters. All in English.
How long until results?
Symptom improvement and longer walking distance typically appear within 6–8 weeks; the programme is maintained long-term.
When to seek help
If your walking distance is shrinking or your legs go numb when walking, the assessment is worth doing now. Rapidly developing unsteady gait or bladder changes are a medical emergency.
