Medically reviewed by Dr. Scheid
What Is Spinal Stenosis?
Difficulty walking more than a block, a persistent ache that worsens every time you stand, or numbness that travels from your back down into your legs can signal something more serious than a pulled muscle. Spinal stenosis narrows the spaces inside your spine where nerves and the spinal cord are housed, creating progressive compression that can significantly limit your mobility and independence over time.
At NeuroSpine Plus in Jersey City, NJ, we offer comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans for patients living with spinal stenosis. Dr. Edward Scheid has more than 20 years of neurosurgical experience and over 8,000 successful procedures, and our team is committed to minimally invasive approaches that prioritize faster recovery and reduced surgical impact.
Spinal stenosis is the abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal or neural foramina that compresses the spinal cord, nerve roots, or both. It develops most often in the lumbar spine (lower back) and cervical spine (neck). The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases identifies age-related degeneration as the primary cause, including disc deterioration, ligament thickening, and bone spur growth. Visit our spinal stenosis page for a full overview of this condition.
Conservative treatments such as activity modification, medication, and physical rehabilitation can manage symptoms effectively in many patients. When these approaches no longer provide adequate relief, or when neurological function begins to decline, surgical evaluation becomes an important next step.
If these symptoms have been building over time and are now affecting your ability to work, exercise, or complete everyday tasks, a spinal evaluation can help identify the cause and guide next steps.
Types of Spinal Stenosis
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Lumbar stenosis is the most prevalent form, developing when the spinal canal in the lower back becomes constricted. Compression of the nerve roots traveling to the legs produces symptoms that patients commonly describe as heaviness, cramping, or a burning sensation in the thighs and calves. These symptoms typically intensify with walking or prolonged standing and ease when sitting or leaning forward. This characteristic pattern, neurogenic claudication, is one of the most reliable clinical indicators of lumbar spinal stenosis.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis
When narrowing occurs in the cervical spine, the spinal cord itself may become compressed rather than individual nerve roots. This makes cervical stenosis a more urgent clinical concern. Patients may notice increasing difficulty with hand dexterity, unsteadiness when walking, stiffness in the neck, or numbness that extends into the arms and fingers. Without timely treatment, cervical stenosis can progress to myelopathy, a condition marked by irreversible spinal cord damage and progressive loss of motor function.
What Causes Spinal Stenosis?
Degenerative changes in the spine are responsible for the vast majority of stenosis cases. These include bone spur development along the vertebral margins, herniated or bulging discs pressing into the canal, hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum, spondylolisthesis, and arthritis of the facet joints. The condition predominantly affects adults over 50, although patients with a congenitally narrow canal or prior spinal injuries may develop symptoms earlier in life.
Common Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
- Pain in the lower back or neck that has gradually worsened over months
- Leg heaviness, cramping, or weakness during activity
- Leg heaviness, cramping, or weakness during activity
- Difficulty walking longer distances without needing to stop and rest
- Balance or coordination problems, particularly in the legs
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, particularly if they have worsened over weeks or months, a thorough evaluation can help determine whether spinal stenosis is the underlying cause.
How We Treat Spinal Stenosis in Jersey City
Treatment at NeuroSpine Plus always begins with a thorough clinical assessment. Dr. Scheid examines your imaging, reviews your symptom progression, and evaluates how the condition is affecting your daily function before recommending any course of action. We do not suggest surgery unless the evidence clearly supports it and non-surgical options have been given a fair trial.
For patients who do require surgical intervention, laminectomy is the most commonly performed procedure for spinal stenosis. By removing a section of the vertebral arch, the procedure creates additional space within the spinal canal and relieves pressure on the affected nerves. Other surgical options we offer include decompression surgery for foraminal stenosis, lumbar fusion when instability accompanies the narrowing, and ACDF for cervical stenosis with associated disc pathology.
Our preference is to perform these procedures using minimally invasive techniques whenever your anatomy and diagnosis allow. Smaller incisions, tubular retractors, and real-time imaging guidance enable us to decompress the spine with less tissue disruption, which translates to reduced post-operative pain, shorter hospital stays, and a quicker return to normal activities for most patients.
Every surgical plan is individualized. The approach Dr. Scheid recommends depends on the location of the stenosis, the number of affected levels, whether structural instability exists, and your overall health profile. The objective is always maximum symptom relief with the least invasive procedure that will achieve a durable result.
Recovery After Spinal Stenosis Surgery
Your recovery timeline will depend on the specific procedure, how many spinal levels were treated, and your baseline health. After a minimally invasive decompression such as laminectomy, most patients return to light daily activities within 2 to 3 weeks. When fusion is part of the surgical plan, full recovery typically takes 3 to 6 months as the vertebrae fuse into a single, stable segment.
We encourage patients to begin walking within the first few days following surgery. Activity levels are increased gradually under Dr. Scheid's direction, with follow-up visits scheduled to monitor healing and adjust recommendations as needed. Our team is available between appointments to answer questions and address any concerns that come up during your recovery.
Our Jersey City office at 550 Newark Avenue provides patients throughout Hudson County with convenient access to advanced spine care. Dr. Scheid and our team guide you through every phase of treatment, from your initial evaluation through post-operative recovery, making sure you understand each step of the process.
If spinal stenosis is interfering with your daily life and conservative treatment has not provided the relief you need, we encourage you to schedule a consultation. Our Jersey City office is located at 550 Newark Avenue, Suite 408, Jersey City, NJ 07306, and with six convenient New Jersey locations, experienced spine care is always within reach.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis produces a recognizable pattern of symptoms. Lower back stenosis typically causes leg pain, heaviness, or cramping that worsens with walking and improves with sitting. Cervical stenosis may cause hand clumsiness, balance issues, or arm numbness. A consultation with Dr. Scheid that includes imaging studies can confirm whether stenosis is responsible for your symptoms.
No. Many patients manage their symptoms effectively through conservative approaches including physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and activity modification. Surgery is recommended only when these measures fail to provide adequate relief or when neurological function is declining. Dr. Scheid determines the best treatment plan on a case-by-case basis at our Jersey City office.
Patients with desk jobs can often return within 2 to 4 weeks after a minimally invasive decompression. Physically demanding occupations may require 6 to 12 weeks or longer, particularly if fusion was performed. Dr. Scheid provides return-to-work guidance tailored to your procedure and job requirements.
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Medically Reviewed by Dr. Scheid & The Team at NeuroSpine Plus
Last updated: June 3, 2026The team at NeuroSpine Plus is led by Dr. Edward Scheid, a board-certified neurosurgeon with over 20 years of experience and 8,000+ successful surgeries. Along with his dedicated team of physician assistants and medical professionals, NeuroSpine Plus specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery and comprehensive spine care across six convenient locations in New Jersey. Our clinical expertise in treating complex spine conditions ensures all content is medically accurate and based on proven treatment approaches we use daily in our practice.