Why do people get spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis means that the space for the nerves in the spinal canal has become smaller than normal. The cause is age-related changes in discs, joints, and ligaments surrounding the canal where the nerves are located.

These changes can cause narrowing at one or more points, which can pinch the nerves. There may also be vertebral slips or misalignments that have developed over time.

What are the symptoms?

Typical symptoms of spinal stenosis include pain in one or both legs, which makes it difficult to walk long distances. The pain often subsides after a while if you sit down and rest. Other symptoms may include numbness in the legs, reduced strength in the legs, and back pain.

Some patients find it helpful to lean forward or, for example, use a shopping cart for support when walking. Symptoms can vary over time and may temporarily improve or worsen.

If the symptoms significantly affect your function and quality of life, an investigation with an MRI of the lower back should be conducted. Your general practitioner can refer you for such an examination if you have the symptoms described here.

What treatments are available?

If you have mild symptoms, we first try exercise with the help of a physiotherapist. If you have symptoms that severely affect your daily activities and if you need to take pain medication, surgery may be an option.

The surgery is performed to widen the area in the lower back where the nerves are cramped. Usually, this involves removing part of the vertebral arch, ligaments, and joints.

What can I expect from the results?

According to the Swedish National Quality Registry for Spinal Surgery, 71% of patients in Sweden are satisfied with the surgery, of which 16% become completely pain-free. 11% experienced a deterioration.

Are there any risks with the surgery?

The risk associated with surgery is low, and the most common complication is a superficial wound infection, which is treated with antibiotics.

Another complication can be a tear in the membrane surrounding the nerves, resulting in a leakage of spinal fluid. The tear heals quickly, but in some cases, it can lead to headaches for a period after the surgery. This does not affect the outcome of the surgery, which remains good, but it can extend the hospital stay slightly as you need to be in bed for 1-2 days.

A clear risk factor that you can influence is smoking. If you are a smoker, you are at greater risk of complications such as infection and delayed healing. If you quit smoking, you significantly increase your chances of a good treatment outcome.

How long is the hospital stay?

You will come to us on the morning of the operation day and usually stay in our care unit for about 1 day.

How long will I need to be off work?

The length of time you will need to be off work after surgery depends on your job, but it usually ranges from 2 to 6 weeks.

What does rehabilitation involve?

After surgery for spinal stenosis, it is important to start moving and try to return to your normal activities. As a natural part of your recovery, we also develop an individual rehabilitation plan tailored to your needs. All our physiotherapists have extensive experience in treating, diagnosing, and rehabilitating back conditions and pain.