Spinal Stenosis
Q. How do I tell a lumbar disc from spinal stenosis?
A.
More pain when you straighten or lean back points to stenosis, and so does relief when you bend forward.
📝 Detailed Answer
The two overlap in symptoms but respond differently to posture.
- Spinal stenosis — straightening or leaning back makes the pain worse, and bending forward brings temporary relief. Standing or walking for a while brings numbness from the back down the legs, and the legs weaken after only a short walk.
- Lumbar disc — sitting or bending forward more often increases the load.
Quite a few people have both, so we do not decide on posture response alone; we confirm by examination.
Expert Verified
Injun Eo
Director