Quad muscle soreness due to spinal stenosis

@tkrfail21
Is your soreness due to muscle weakness or spasms?

I had decompression and fusion surgery on L3-L5 in 2024 after spinal injections stopped working. At that point, I had pain, weakness and numbness from my lower back, hips/buttocks and thighs down to feet caused by severe stenosis, degenerative disc disease, gluteal tendinopathy, hamstring tears and neurogenic claudication. I couldn’t walk or stand for long for the pain and foot numbness to start.

Does your lumbar MRI show spinal cord and nerve root compression? Did you have EMG/nerve conduction studies to see what f you have compression causing radiculpathy to legs?

Have you ever had a MRI of your pelvis/hips to see if you have any soft tissue injury or compression adding to your leg symptoms?

Hello @tkrfail21,

I'd like to invite @rono2410, @geo2112 and @legeke to this discussion as they have all talked about having spinal stenosis and leg discomfort. Each has tried various exercises or treatments to try and combat their leg weakness and pain and may have some experiences to share with you.

@tkrfail21, you mentioned your pain management doctor has expressed why they think you have leg pain but their solutions did not ultimately help with it, did they have any other thoughts one what may help or PT regimens that may be beneficial?

I am sorry to hear about ongoing quad pain @tkrfail21. In my case I had lumbar stenosis at L4/L5 and it eventually progressed to neurogenic claudication from the nerve compression...pain started at 2nd toe came across top of foot, around by ankle, up outside of leg and above knee made a hook towards inside of knee. The only way I could relieve the pain was to do "forward leaning squats" which progressed to having to do after only walking about 50 feet. By time I reached this point, it was surgery that relieved my pain. My second toe is still tingly feeling but all the other pain stopped. It was a HUGE relief. I did over 5 months pre-surgery PT which kept my abs, legs, hips strong and my balance optimized for surgery. Things I did that did NOT help: chiropractic care MEDX lumbar treatment, pain management outside of Mayo clinic because they weren't offering me the correct injection, e-stimulation.
Wishing you the best

What exercises did Pt do with you to strengthen and help?

Haven't done pt for this, but Had months of pt for bad knee replacement. Do squats. Swim laps, swim with fins that really work my quads. Upper quads are so sore I can't stoop down. or lift legs to get in car.

Exactly could you please tell me the procedure name of the surgery.
Thanks 😊

I have no answers, just joined Connect and feel relieved to find people with the same complaints! I haven’t gone since really been frustrated as I have had increasing quad pain radiating now down front / side of shin to top of foot and 2 toes gradually. Started just as hip catching pain.
I have an MRI in 2 weeks as I haven’t had one for 2 years. Had transdermal injection 1 1/2 years ago which helped immensely but also started to develop tears in HS tendons and Glut med / min tendons. I am a retired PT which makes this even harder to no longer be able to help myself. The pain has increased in severity over 6 months, seeing every specialist it seems.
I am just searching for now, appreciate any direction in surgeons who do the best fusions as I feel this is coming in my future. Could barely walk 60 ft tonight with husband assistance tonight, pain was severe, pain / spasms in R quad and some HS as someone else mentioned which is new in past week.

@hope2heal I had an ablasion to 3rd, 4th, 5th lumbar nerves. Helped alot. Was told the sore quads was nerves being pinched due to stenosis. Deep knee bends have helped also.

I have stenosis also, 3rd, 4th, 5th and probably in my cervical. I could barely walk, had hip pain mainly. After injections into my hip joint X3 which did nothing. 4-5 years later, stenosis was finally diagnosed. I had lumbar laminectomy surgery with no fusions 10 years ago and today I can walk as far as I want to. Best decision I ever made.