What are the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis

Symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis are related to the degree of spinal stenosis and individual’s physical condition. Mild symptoms may be inconspicuous or dominated by lumbar pain, and as it progresses, it can be manifested as intermittent claudication, pain in lower back, numbness and weakness of lower limbs, and obstacles in urination and defecation as well as in sexual life. 1. Intermittent claudication: when walking upright, numbness, pain and heaviness gradually appear in the lower limbs. After changing posture or resting, the symptoms of some patients can disappear or be relieved, and the symptoms tend to reappear when they continue to stand up and walk, and the walking distance is gradually shortened, which is a typical manifestation of lumbar spinal stenosis. 2. Lower lumbar pain: most patients will have lower lumbar pain, which will affect the lumbar extension activities, most of them can be relieved and improved by bed rest, but it will occur repeatedly. 3. Numbness and weakness of the lower limbs: mainly related to the compression and stimulation of the nerve roots, manifested as decreased superficial sensation of the lower limbs, abnormal pain sensation, and part of the lower limbs will have weakened muscle strength. 4. Urination and defecation and sexual dysfunction: when lumbar spinal stenosis compresses the cauda equina nerve, it will affect the function of sphincter, thus causing urination and defecation and sexual dysfunction. When the above symptoms occur, attention should be paid to go to the regular hospital in time, and the lumbar MRI or CT examination, and give targeted treatment and therapy.