Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the inside walls of the spinal column start Gerald Hayken, MD, chief of orthopaedic surgery at Virtua Memorial Hospital explains: "Stenosis is caused by disc degeneration, joint degeneration and bulging of the ligaments that run up and down the sides of the spinal column. These changes add bulk to the spinal column's interior cavity, sometimes pinching the spinal nerves or cord."

Classic spinal stenosis symptoms include pain in the buttocks and legs. "Some patients become so incapacitated that they can't walk short distances because their legs feel so heavy and achy," adds Dr. Hayken.

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