Older adults with spinal stenosis often develop foot pain because the narrowing of the spinal canal compresses the nerves that travel from the lower back down to the feet. This nerve compression disrupts normal nerve signals, causing pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness that frequently radiate into the feet.
Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spinal canal—the passageway that houses the spinal cord and nerve roots—becomes narrower. In older adults, this narrowing usually results from age-related changes such as thickened ligaments, enlarged facet joints, bone spurs, and disc degeneration. These changes reduce the space available for nerves, leading to their compression or irritation.
The nerves affected in lumbar spinal stenosis are part of the sciatic nerve network, which extends from the lower spine down through the legs and into the feet. When these nerves are pinched or compressed, the symptoms often manifest as pain or abnormal sensations in the feet. This is because the nerves carry sensory and motor signals to and from the feet, so any disruption can cause discomfort or weakness there.
Foot pain in spinal stenosis is often described as burning, sharp, or shooting pain. It may be accompanied by numbness or tingling, sometimes described as “pins and needles.” Weakness in foot muscles can also occur, leading to difficulty walking or a feeling of instability. These symptoms tend to worsen with activities like standing or walking and often improve when sitting or bending forward, which temporarily opens the spinal canal and relieves nerve pressure.
The reason older adults are particularly prone to this problem is that spinal stenosis develops gradually over many years. As the spine ages, degenerative changes accumulate, slowly narrowing the canal. This progressive compression eventually affects nerve function, leading to symptoms in the lower extremities, including the feet.
Additionally, the foot pain is not just due to nerve compression but also related to how the body compensates for spinal issues. When the nerves are compressed, altered gait patterns and muscle imbalances can develop, placing extra strain on the feet and contributing to pain.
In summary, foot pain in older adults with spinal stenosis arises because the narrowing spinal canal compresses nerves that serve the feet, causing pain, numbness, and weakness. Age-related spinal changes cause this narrowing, and the symptoms reflect the nerve pathways affected by the stenosis.
