Overview Spinal stenosis happens when the space inside the backbone is too small. This can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves that travel through the spine. Spinal stenosis happens most often in the lower back and the neck. Some people with spinal stenosis have no symptoms. Others may experience pain, tingling, numbness and muscle weakness. Symptoms can get worse over time., In lumbar spinal stenosis, the space around the spinal cord in the lumbar spine (lower back) narrows. This puts pressure on the spinal cord and the spinal nerve roots, and can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs., Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the canal in the lower portion of the spine. This can pinch nerves in your spinal column and cause low back pain., , , .