Spinal Stenosis
Numbness in the legs, causing you to repeatedly walk and stop – disc problems and other compression issues.
If your legs feel like they're about to burst after walking just a little bit,
Spinal stenosis is a degenerative condition that occurs with age as the passageway through which nerves pass narrows. A characteristic symptom is intermittent claudication — when walking, the buttocks and legs become numb and painful, requiring rest, but it quickly improves when bending the back or sitting down (which is why pushing strollers or carts is often easier).
- Unlike disc herniation in younger people, it progresses slowly and is common in those over 60.
- Diagnosis is made based on symptoms plus MRI results (orthopedics or neurosurgery department).
Source: 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털 · as of 2026-08-13
Surgery is a last resort, but there are cases where it cannot be delayed.
- Many patients can maintain their daily lives through medication, physical therapy, and nerve block injections. Even with stenosis, exercises like walking, cycling, and swimming are often recommended.
- Signs that surgery cannot be delayed: When leg strength gradually weakens, when bowel and bladder control is lost (an emergency), or when the distance one can walk significantly decreases, leading to a decline in quality of life.
- If you have been advised to undergo surgery but lack confidence, seeking a second opinion is a common and reasonable choice.
Frequently asked questions
They say walking is good for tunnel vision, but it hurts when I walk.
The key is to "walk in intervals": don't walk until you feel pain, and rest before your legs start to ache. Exercise like riding a stationary bike, where you slightly bend your back, is great for building endurance without causing pain.
Does treatment (such as neuroplasty) help?
Injections and procedures can reduce pain for a certain period, enabling movement. However, they do not widen the bone structure itself. Therefore, instead of repeatedly undergoing these procedures, consider them within an overall treatment plan.
Sources for this page
· 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털 (as of 2026-08-13)Last checked: 2026년 8월 13일
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