Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooLumbar Spinal Stenosis
Low Back & Pelvis
What It Is
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a condition where the spinal canal, or one of the openings where the nerves leave the spine (the vertebral foramina), becomes narrow. If the narrowing is significant, the spinal nerves can become compressed, causing the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis, such as buttock pain, lower back pain, numbness and leg pain. These often get worse when walking or standing and better when sitting or bending forward (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.; Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2025).
Spinal stenosis can happen in the neck, middle back or lower back, but it is most common in the lower back, which is what lumbar spinal stenosis refers to (Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2025). It can be painful and can affect your quality of life, but it is not usually serious, and most people manage well over time (Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2025).
At the bottom of the spinal cord is a bundle of nerves called the cauda equina (horse's tail), and severe compression here is rare but serious. This is called cauda equina syndrome and is a medical emergency (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Anatomy
The spinal cord runs from your brain down to your lower back. It is the main communication pathway in the body, and from it run the nerves that control virtually every action your body needs for living. The spinal cord and nerves run through a series of holes in each vertebra that together form a canal called the spinal canal. Some people are born with a narrower spinal canal, so are more prone to spinal stenosis (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.; Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2025). In most people, the canal gets narrower with age, as wear-and-tear changes (arthritis) in the discs and joints of the spine leave less room for the nerves; arthritis is the most common cause (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.; Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2025). Changes in the position of the vertebrae, such as slippage of a vertebra, and disc problems such as a large disc prolapse can also narrow the spinal canal. Rarer causes include a growth such as a tumour or cyst.
Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.
Treatment
Self-Care & Treatment
How to Treat Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner
Tips
- Exercise and physical therapy can help to stop symptoms getting worse.
- One of the main risk factors for lumbar spinal stenosis is ageing; it is most common in people aged 60 or over (Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2025).
- In most cases, symptoms improve when you lean or sit forward (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).
- It is hard to predict how symptoms will change, but research suggests that about 3 in 5 people with lumbar stenosis stay the same, often for many years, 1 in 5 improve and 1 in 5 get slowly worse. When symptoms worsen, it is usually gradual, for example being able to walk less far over time (Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2025).
Treatment
My Approach
Spinal stenosis is usually long-lasting, and your doctor leads your care. My part is easing the pain and muscle tension that come with it, keeping your spine and hips moving, and helping you walk further. After surgery, I need your surgeon's okay before any hands-on treatment.
I start by assessing how your back and hips move, which positions ease or bring on your symptoms, and the feeling, reflexes and strength in your legs.
Easing Pain and Stiffness
- Comfortable positions, often on your side or with your hips and knees bent, with warm applications on tight tissue
- Massage and trigger point work for the lower back, hips and hamstrings and muscles working overtime from leaning forward
- Gentle, low-velocity mobilisation of stiff areas, never quick thrusts
- After surgery, once you're cleared, scar work, gentle lymphatic drainage for swelling, and a gradual return to strength
Staying Active
What to Expect
Typical Course
What I Focus On
Please read
When to See a Doctor First
When to Get Urgent Help
Call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital if you have, or start to get, any of the following (Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2025):
- problems going to the toilet, such as wanting to empty your bladder but being unable to, or loss of control of your bladder or bowels
- tingling or numbness in your genitals, back passage (anus) or upper inner thighs
- a large loss of strength or coordination in your arms, hands or legs
- unexplained balance problems or unsteadiness in your legs
- new problems getting or keeping an erection
More typical symptoms of spinal stenosis include pain in the back and legs, numbness or weakness in the legs and buttocks, and sometimes a feeling of unsteadiness, usually brought on by walking or standing for a while (Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2025).
Sources
References
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.) Lumbar spinal stenosis. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/lumbar-spinal-stenosis/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
- Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2025) Lumbar spine stenosis. Available at: https://sfh-tr.nhs.uk/patients-and-visiting/patient-information-leaflets/musculoskeletal-msk/lumbar-spine-stenosis/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).