Neurogenic Claudication: Causes, Symptoms, and What You Can Do

When walking triggers pain, numbness, or weakness in your legs — and it gets better when you sit or bend forward — you might be dealing with neurogenic claudication, a condition caused by nerve compression in the lower spine that mimics poor circulation but has a completely different root cause. Also known as spinal claudication, it’s not a heart issue. It’s a spinal one. Unlike vascular claudication, which comes from blocked arteries, neurogenic claudication happens because the space around your spinal nerves narrows — usually from spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on nerves as they exit the lower back. This isn’t rare. It’s one of the most common reasons older adults stop walking as far as they used to.

The pain doesn’t come from your muscles. It comes from your nerves being squeezed. That’s why bending forward — like leaning on a shopping cart — often gives instant relief. It opens up the spinal canal and takes pressure off the nerves. You might feel tingling in your calves, a heavy ache in your thighs, or even foot drop. These symptoms show up slowly, get worse over months or years, and rarely improve on their own. Lumbar spine, the lower part of your backbone where most nerve compression occurs is usually the culprit. It’s not just aging. Herniated discs, bone spurs, thickened ligaments, or even scoliosis can squeeze those nerves. And while it’s common in people over 60, it can hit younger folks too, especially if they’ve had spine injuries or have a genetic predisposition.

What you don’t want to do is ignore it or assume it’s just "getting old." Many people delay seeing a doctor because they think it’s arthritis or poor circulation. But misdiagnosing neurogenic claudication can lead to worsening symptoms — and even permanent nerve damage. The good news? There are clear ways to manage it. Physical therapy that focuses on core strength and posture can help. Epidural steroid injections may reduce swelling around the nerves. And in some cases, surgery to widen the spinal canal is the most effective fix. The key is knowing what you’re dealing with before jumping into treatments meant for heart problems.

What follows are real, practical posts from people who’ve lived with this condition — and the experts who treat it. You’ll find guides on how to tell the difference between nerve pain and artery pain, what exercises actually help (and which ones make it worse), how medications like NSAIDs fit into the picture, and what diagnostic tests like MRI or CT myelography reveal. There’s no fluff. Just what works — and what doesn’t — for neurogenic claudication.