Spinal Stenosis
Specialist evaluation of narrowing in the spinal canal that causes back or leg pain, heaviness when walking, or relief when leaning forward.
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the space around the nerves or spinal cord. In the lumbar spine, it typically causes heaviness, aching, or cramping in the legs with walking that improves with sitting or leaning forward (often called neurogenic claudication).
The hallmark of stenosis is a shrinking walking distance: the legs feel heavy or give out and the patient has to stop and rest repeatedly before continuing. This is what most often sets it apart from sciatica, where a radiating, shooting pain — rather than the inability to keep walking — is the dominant complaint.
The narrowing usually builds up over time. The most common drivers are age-related degeneration of the spine, arthritis of the facet joints with bony overgrowth that crowds the canal, a herniated disc pressing on the nerves, and — less commonly — any source of inflammation or swelling, including a tumor, that encroaches on the space.
Diagnosis starts with a clinical and neurological examination and is confirmed with imaging. X-rays show bony changes, MRI shows where the nerves are being compressed, and a CT scan gives a detailed view of the bone when that level of detail is needed.
Treatment ranges from structured physiotherapy and targeted injections to surgical decompression. Dr. Zuhair Abu Salma focuses on matching the treatment to the patient’s daily-life impact, not just the imaging.
When surgery is the right step, the usual goal is to relieve pressure on the nerves — most often by removing a small portion of bone (laminectomy) to reopen the canal. If the spine is also unstable, the affected vertebrae may be fused. Where suitable, a minimally invasive approach can be used to shorten recovery time.
Common symptoms
- Heaviness, aching, or cramping in one or both legs with walking
- Having to stop and rest several times before you can walk further
- Relief when sitting, leaning on a shopping cart, or going up stairs
- Low back (or neck) pain that has gradually worsened over months or years
- Numbness or tingling in the legs, feet, arms, or hands
- Weakness that makes walking or standing difficult, or a loss of balance
When to see a doctor
- Walking distance has shortened — fewer minutes before pain forces a stop
- Symptoms are limiting daily life (shopping, prayer, work)
- New weakness, falls, or loss of bladder/bowel control
- Numbness or tingling in the legs or feet that keeps getting worse
- Conservative care has not given enough relief after 6–12 weeks
What to expect at your visit
- A review of how the symptoms affect walking, standing, and daily tasks
- A clinical and neurological exam, with X-ray, MRI, or CT used as needed to confirm the diagnosis
- MRI review and a discussion of whether the imaging matches the symptoms
- A realistic plan: what to try first (physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory medication, or an epidural steroid injection), when to reassess, and what surgery would involve if needed
- Practical self-care guidance — keeping a healthy weight, low-impact exercise such as swimming or walking, good posture, core strengthening, and a walking aid if needed
Related reading & care
Care at the clinic
Spine Surgeries
Spinal procedures for disc herniation, stenosis, spinal cord tumors, deformity, fractures, and chronic spine pain.
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Spinal Canal Stenosis with Slipped Vertebra: Decompression and Stabilization
When canal narrowing is paired with a vertebra that has slipped forward, the plan combines opening the canal with putting the spine back into a stable alignment.
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Facet Joint Decompression: When the Small Joints of the Spine Cause Big Pain
Between every pair of vertebrae sit two small joints. When they become inflamed, overgrown, or cystic, they can compress the nerve next to them and cause severe leg pain.
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When Walking Short Distances Becomes Hard: A Spine Signal Worth Investigating
Difficulty walking long distances can be more than fatigue. In some adults, it points to spinal canal narrowing that is treatable with the right evaluation.
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Anonymized Case: Walking Limits and Spinal Stenosis
Read caseBook your consultation
Book an appointment with Dr. Zuhair Abu Salma at Vetro Medical Center, Al-Khalidi Street, Amman.