Do you have spinal stenosis? If so, you will probably have symptoms such as reduced mobility and discomfort in the neck or lower back. Reduce the discomfort with professional treatment or surgery at CPH Privathospital. We help you so that your joints and muscles can function as normally as possible without pain.

Whether you have pain in the neck, lower back or sensory disturbances, we can help. We have extensive experience with spinal stenosis and operations in spine surgery. In addition, we collaborate with skilled physiotherapists so that you can avoid discomfort and hospitalisation as far as possible.

If you have questions along the way, you are always welcome to ask us. We want you to feel in safe hands and be seen as an individual person – not just a patient. You can experience this through security, presence and by having the same professional consultant throughout your entire pathway.

Read about possible causes and symptoms of spinal stenosis below. You are of course welcome to contact us if you are in doubt about symptoms or treatment. We will do our best to guide and advise you.

What is spinal stenosis? 

Spinal stenosis, also called spinal canal narrowing, is a condition in which the spinal canal becomes too narrow due to osteoarthritis in the back. The narrowing causes constant pressure on your nerves in the back, and the small blood vessels that nourish the nerves become compressed. This means that too little blood and therefore too little oxygen reaches your nerves and muscles.

Spinal stenosis occurs in your spinal cord, where there are vertebrae with a canal on each side. A nerve runs through these canals and out to the body. It is in these canals that narrowing can occur, which can put pressure on your nerves. This is why you often feel spinal stenosis at the bottom of the neck or in the lumbar spine, but spinal stenosis can occur throughout the entire spine.

You may experience signs of spinal stenosis when, over time, you find it harder to walk due to pain in your legs and back. This is why some people call the narrowing “window-shopper’s disease”, because people with spinal stenosis have to take breaks during their walk. 
Read more about osteoarthritis, and what other spinal conditions you may also experience.

Know your symptoms of spinal stenosis

Most often, spinal stenosis does not cause symptoms, as narrowing is part of the normal ageing process. In most cases, spinal stenosis is caused by wear and tear in your back that has come with age, as well as calcifications, narrowing of cartilage discs and the like. Therefore, the condition is most often seen after the age of 50, but it can also be congenital. 

In some cases, the narrowing can lead to a risk of pressure on your spinal cord and nerve roots. This can cause symptoms such as weakness, fatigue or sensory disturbances in the legs. Sometimes you only feel the symptoms on one side of your legs. And often there is also lower back pain.

Normal signs of spinal stenosis are therefore pain and/or paralysis in the legs and walking difficulties with shorter and shorter walks. Others also complain of many cramps in the calves and feet, which occur after even short distances – hence “window-shopper’s disease”. In rare cases, there may be altered sensation or reduced muscle strength in the arms and legs. 

On the other hand, the symptoms of spinal stenosis often disappear again when you sit down or bend forward. This is because the pressure on the nerves in the spine is greatest when the back is stretched backwards, and is least when the back or lower back is bent forward. If you have spinal stenosis, you can normally cycle without getting cramps in your legs. There is normally also no back pain when you rest or sleep.

Surgery and treatment of spinal stenosis

In general, there is no pain-relieving medication that can effectively relieve your pain. Instead, you will usually be offered treatment of spinal stenosis with training and exercises. However, this should be done with advice from your own doctor.

An operation for spinal stenosis may become necessary if the exercises have no effect after three to six months, and you still find it difficult to walk longer distances without pain. Here at CPH Privathospital we offer a thorough examination and professional operation.

Among other things, we remove the part of the bone and ligament that is pressing on your nerves in the back. During the operation you will be under general anaesthesia, and it is the same doctor who is with you from start to finish.  

After the operation, a nurse will observe you and measure your vital signs until you can be discharged or moved to your own room. When you are ready, experienced physiotherapists will give you some exercises that are tailored to your specific needs. We will also tell you how you should behave while your body heals. This way you get the best result.

You can read more about your pathway if you are to have an operation and admission with us.