Leg Pain From Pinched Nerves in Your Back--What Can Be Done About it?

By Eric P. Roger, MD, BSc, FRCS(C)

Do your legs hurt when you walk? Do they feel better when you sit down? How about when you lean over a shopping cart? You may be suffering from spinal stenosis.

So what is spinal stenosis? Can something be done about it? First, you need to understand that you are not alone. Even more important, there may be a “quick fix” for your problem.

Spinal stenosis is a medical term that simply means “pinched nerves.” When your nerves are pinched in your back, you might think you would have back pain. The truth is that pinched nerves will hurt in your legs, and the pain will “run down the nerves.” Back pain is usually a result of arthritis, muscle spasm, pulled muscles, or another problem specifically in your back. You may have both.

Leg pain from pinched nerves (spinal stenosis) will hurt in one or both legs, and will typically be worse with standing and walking. The pain usually decreases when sitting down or bending forward. People often say that they can only walk short distances, and then need to sit down for a few minutes before walking again. People also say they are able to walk without leg pain when they lean over a shopping cart. This is because leaning over the cart helps open up the spine, taking pressure off the nerves.

There are many ways to help leg pain as a result of spinal stenosis. Mild medications can be helpful. Physical therapy or chiropractic care can also make a big difference. Epidural injections can give you several weeks to months of relief and really work quite well. If all these things don’t help, or helped initially but don’t work anymore, there may be a role for surgery. People are often scared of surgery, and rightly so. We now have very small surgeries, or procedures, that can be done under 30 minutes and allow you to go home the same day, that really work well to relieve the leg pain from pinched nerves. This is what many patients call the “spacer” surgery.

The “spacers” are little wedges we can place between the bones in your back to open up the space for the nerves. They don’t require any bony removal or actual work “on the nerves.” They take less than 30 minutes, and patients typically go home the same day or the next morning. They work great at relieving the leg pain. Over 300 patients in the Buffalo area have had great success with this small, “minimally invasive” procedure.

If your legs hurt when you walk, and get better when you sit down or bend forward (over a shopping cart), you may be suffering from spinal stenosis. An MRI would help us determine this, and we may be able to help you.

To make an appointment call 716-854-5700. To learn more about spinal stenosis and other common spinal conditions, symptoms, and treatment visit www.ericroger.com.

About the Author:

Dr. Roger is a board certified neurologist at Pinnacle Orthopedic and Spine Specialists. He focuses on spinal diseases of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions, and has special expertise is minimally invasive technologies and advanced spinal instrumentation. Pinnacle Orthopedic and Spine Specialists is an award-winning medical center located at 700 Michigan Avenue in Buffalo's downtown medical corridor. It is easily accessible and parking is free.