Does the pain begin in the lower back and radiate to the buttocks, thighs and legs. Such pain is evidence of nerve root involvement. In rare, advanced cases, patients may report impairment of bladder function. While symptoms often vary from patient to patient, most patients with LSS report a consistent, recurriing and progressive pattern. Pain generally begins when a patient walks or stands and may worsen with exercise.
Symptoms tend to disappear when the patient stops walking and sits down.
Flexion of the back widens the spinal canal, relieving pressure on the nerve roots and cauda equina. For this reason, it is common for patients with LSS to lean on their shopping carts while grocery shopping to relieve the pain. However, patients with LSS also may have other conditions that do respond to these medications - for example, osteoarthritis. Smoking predisposes patients to degenerative back conditions and damages the structures and architecture of the spine. LSS patients tend to bend forward at the waist to relieve the pain.