Anyone with Spinal Stenosis have ankle pain?

@shaneilya I see you are fairly new to Connect, so welcome! Spinal stenosis can occur inside the central spinal canal or stenosis can occur at nerve roots that have a direct effect on a specific nerve. I had spinal stenosis in the central canal and had spine surgery for that. I had pain all over my body that changed locations from spinal stenosis. My very first symptom that something was wrong, was a pain in my ankle when I turned my head, and then when I straighten my head, the pain stopped. It was reproducible, and that was because I had bone spurs that were contacting my spinal cord at a place that made that happen when I turned my head. The symptoms advanced to more and more involvement until I had decompression surgery several years ago. Pain can also be generated in nerves in the leg itself or where the nerve passes near joints, and it is the job of a neurologist to figure out where the origin of the pain is. If it is from the spine, decompression surgery can help if you are a surgical candidate, although surgery is always a compromise between risks and reward.

Thank you so much. You provided insight that I needed to hear. I go to a doctor who is a physical rehab specialist for the back, anesthesiologist, and pain medicine doctor specializing in back issues. I also went to an orthopedic surgeon who said surgery would be too risky. I am wondering if a neurologist would be more appropriate since the nerves are involved.

I had severe ankle pain (left only) for over a year. Thought it was arthritis. It didn't seem connected to the sciatic pain experienced on my right side. At night both were keeping me awake. I started using a cane to relieve pain while walking and to maintain balance. Then all of a sudden, I had no ankle pain or sciatica. It's probably only temporary, I realize. I'm scheduled for an epidural shot in a couple of weeks. Only symptoms now are stiff back, inability to walk a distance or stand for long.

@genej Have lower calf pain that pain mgmt said it was foraminal stenosis from l5&s1 nerve.Tried epidural but have l4&5 fusion fixture that makes it difficult to reach.

@rockpir Want to mention my brother has the same l5&s1 diagnosis .