Spinal Stenosis treatment in Toronto

Spinal stenosis is the gradual narrowing of the spinal canal or the small openings (foramina) where nerves exit the spine. As that space shrinks, the nerves running through it get less room, and when you load the spine by walking or standing, they become irritated. The hallmark is neurogenic claudication: cramping, heaviness, aching, or fatigue in one or both legs that builds the longer you're upright and dramatically eases the moment you sit down or lean forward.

That flexion relief is the tell. Leaning over a shopping cart, resting on a kitchen counter, or sitting on a bench buys instant relief, the famous 'shopping cart sign.' If you've found yourself planning errands around where you can sit, or leaning on the cart through the grocery store, this page is for you. The reassuring part: most people with stenosis stay active and out of the operating room with the right conservative plan.

Your first visit takes 45–60 minutes. We start with a detailed history: how far you can walk before the legs start, what positions relieve them, whether sitting and leaning forward help, and how the pattern is affecting your day. That story is often enough to recognize neurogenic claudication. We then confirm it with an orthopedic and neurological exam, strength, reflexes, sensation, and movement testing, to separate stenosis from a disc problem, a hip issue, or vascular claudication that can mimic it.

From there we explain what's going on in plain language, set a realistic baseline for your current symptom-free walking distance, and start care the same day when it's appropriate. You'll leave with a clear plan, your first flexion-bias exercises, and a sense of how many visits we expect this to take. Because Dr. Serrick works as an Advanced Practice Provider at St. Michael's Hospital Rapid Access Clinic, we also know exactly when a case warrants imaging or a surgical opinion, and when it doesn't.