Pain Condition
Spinal Stenosis
By Dr. Anthony J. Gordon, Doctor of Acupuncture | Last reviewed September 2026
You can walk a block or two, then your legs get heavy, tingly or achy and you need to sit or lean on a shopping cart. Standing in line is hard. Sitting brings relief. That pattern is typical of spinal stenosis. The narrowing itself does not change quickly, but the muscles, joints and nerve sensitivity around it can, and that often means walking farther with less pain.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (516) 597-5400. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.
Overview
Understanding Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces in the spine where the spinal cord and nerve roots travel. In the low back, it usually comes from age-related changes such as thickened ligaments, bone spurs, facet joint arthritis and bulging discs. It is most common after age 50.
The classic symptom is neurogenic claudication: pain, heaviness, numbness or tingling in the buttocks and legs that builds with standing and walking and eases with sitting or bending forward. Bending forward opens space in the spine, which is why many people feel better leaning on a shopping cart. Protective muscle tension in the back and hips, stiff hips and sensitized nerves all add to the symptoms.
Your physician or spine specialist monitors the stenosis and discusses injections or surgery when needed. Dr. Gordon treats the muscle guarding, hip stiffness and nerve sensitivity that affect how far and how comfortably you can walk and stand.
Spinal Stenosis at a Glance
Also called
Lumbar spinal stenosis, neurogenic claudication, cervical stenosis in the neck
Who it affects
Most often adults over 50
Classic pattern
Leg pain or heaviness with walking and standing, relief with sitting or bending forward
Common causes
Thickened ligaments, bone spurs, facet arthritis, disc bulges
What Dr. Gordon addresses
Back and hip muscle guarding, hip stiffness, nerve sensitivity
The Gap in Care
What Tests Check, and What They Can Miss
Stenosis care focuses on the narrowing, which is essential. The muscles and nerve sensitivity that shape daily symptoms often get less attention.
What routine testing is looking for
- Degree of narrowing on MRI
- Severe nerve or spinal cord compression
- Instability or slipped vertebrae
- Surgical options
What often keeps symptoms going
- Back extensor and quadratus lumborum guarding
- Tight hip flexors that pull the spine into extension
- Gluteal weakness and trigger points
- Sensitized nerves in the legs
- Walking posture and pacing
These are assessed with movement, walking and hands-on testing.
Signs & Symptoms
Does This Sound Like You?
Symptoms vary from person to person. These are the patterns Dr. Gordon sees most often.
Leg pain or heaviness when walking
Legs that ache, tire or feel heavy after a short walk.
Relief with sitting or bending forward
Pain easing when you sit or lean on something.
Numbness or tingling in the legs
Pins and needles in the legs or feet.
Low back pain
Aching in the low back with standing.
Trouble standing in one place
Standing in line or cooking becomes difficult.
Balance changes
Feeling less steady on your feet.
Root Causes
The Four Drivers Dr. Gordon Looks For
Most people have more than one of these in play. Finding which one leads makes treatment more efficient.
Spinal narrowing
Narrowing reduces room for nerves. Your spine specialist monitors this.
Muscle guarding
Back and hip muscles tighten and increase pressure on the spine.
Hip stiffness
Tight hip flexors pull the spine into extension, which narrows it further.
Nerve sensitivity
Compressed nerves become sensitive and react sooner.
Your First Visit
How Dr. Gordon Evaluates Spinal Stenosis
The initial evaluation runs 60 to 75 minutes. You leave with a clear picture of what is driving your symptoms, a written plan, a realistic timeline, and in most cases your first treatment.
Records and history review
Dr. Gordon reviews your MRI, spine specialist notes, injections and walking history.
Walking and posture assessment
Dr. Gordon looks at how far you can walk and which positions relieve symptoms.
Neurological screen
Dr. Gordon checks strength, sensation, reflexes and balance.
Hip and back muscle assessment
Hands-on assessment of the hip flexors, gluteals and back muscles.
Plan and coordination
A clear plan, plus communication with your physician, orthopedist or physical therapist when that helps your care.
When to see a physician first
- New weakness, numbness or tingling that is spreading or getting worse
- Numbness in the saddle area or loss of bladder or bowel control
- Back pain with fever, chills or unexplained weight loss
- Pain after a significant fall or accident
- Back pain with a history of cancer
- Severe pain at night that does not change with position
If you have any of these, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department.
Bring to your first visit
Records
Recent lab results, imaging reports and specialist notes. These can also be faxed ahead.
Treatment history
A short list of what you have tried and what did or did not help.
Clothing
Something comfortable and loose fitting.
Treatment
How Dr. Gordon Treats It
These are the tools Dr. Gordon uses most often for spinal stenosis, chosen from your exam findings.
Primary approach
Orthopedic Dry Needling
Dr. Gordon has used dry needling for more than 18 years. Treatment releases back, hip flexor and gluteal guarding that adds pressure and stiffness around the narrowed spine.
See all servicesNerve focus
Neuro-Functional Acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture along the lumbar and leg nerve pathways to calm nerve sensitivity.
See all servicesBetween visits
Walking Plan & Team Coordination
Pacing, posture and walking strategies, coordinated with your spine specialist or physical therapist.
Referring provider? Contact the clinicWhat to Expect
A Typical Recovery Arc
Visits 1 to 3
Find the main driver
Dr. Gordon confirms which muscles and nerves are behind your symptoms and starts calming the most reactive areas. Many people notice early changes between visits.
Visits 4 to 8
Lower the baseline
Day-to-day symptoms ease, flares become shorter and less frequent, and normal routines start to feel more manageable.
Visits 9 to 12 and beyond
Build resilience
Visits are spaced out as improvement holds. You leave with a maintenance and early-flare plan.
Most patients are seen weekly or every other week during active care. Individual results vary with how long symptoms have been present and how reactive they are. Progress is reassessed at every visit.
Not sure how to describe it? Put your pain or discomfort into words before your visit
"One week ago I walked into Dr. Anthony Gordon's office ... with chronic low back pain, bilateral hip pain, tingling along my left thigh, right knee pain and left shoulder pain. ... After one treatment I found myself standing straighter with decreased back, hip and knee pain and no tingling to my left thigh."
Estrellita Ammirati, Google Review
Spinal Stenosis Questions
Answers About Spinal Stenosis
Still unsure whether this is the right fit? Reach out before you book and Dr. Gordon will talk through your history with you.
No. It treats the muscle guarding and nerve sensitivity that affect symptoms, not the narrowing itself.
Bending forward opens space in the spinal canal and takes pressure off the nerves.
Many people manage stenosis without surgery. Your spine specialist can discuss options if symptoms are severe.
Yes. Many patients combine injections with muscle and nerve treatment.
Many people notice change within six to ten sessions, often measured by how far they can walk.
Yes. Dr. Gordon helps you pace walking and use positions that keep you moving.
Before You Book
General Questions
The clinic is an out-of-network practice. The initial evaluation is $300 and follow-up visits are $250. After each visit you receive a detailed superbill to submit to your PPO plan for possible reimbursement. FSA and HSA cards are accepted, and the clinic can run a complimentary benefits check before your first appointment. The check is a courtesy, so please confirm your coverage with your plan. See Insurance & Fees for details.
The first evaluation is 60 to 75 minutes and usually includes treatment. Follow-up visits run 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Call (516) 597-5400 or send a message through the contact page. This is especially helpful if your case is complex and you want to understand the approach before committing to a full evaluation.
1508 Union Turnpike, Suite 133, North New Hyde Park, NY 11040, with free parking on site. The clinic is an easy drive from Manhasset, Great Neck, Garden City, Lake Success, Floral Park and Mineola. Early morning, evening and weekend hours are available.
Most people feel a quick muscle twitch or a deep ache that lasts a few seconds. That twitch is a normal sign the trigger point is releasing. Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterward, similar to a hard workout, is common. Depth, angle and stimulation are adjusted to your comfort.
Both use the same fine, sterile, single-use needles. Dry needling targets specific trigger points and tight bands in muscle based on your exam. Neuro-functional acupuncture targets nerve pathways, often with gentle electrical stimulation, to calm nerve sensitivity. For spinal stenosis, Dr. Gordon commonly uses both.
When performed by a trained, licensed provider with detailed knowledge of anatomy, it has a strong safety record. Tell Dr. Gordon if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system so he can plan accordingly.
About Dr. Anthony J. Gordon
Dr. Anthony J. Gordon is a Doctor of Acupuncture licensed in New York and board certified. He holds ASE certification in intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling, along with advanced certifications in Functional Dry Needling and Neuro-Functional Acupuncture. With more than 18 years of clinical experience and over 3,000 complex cases treated, he focuses on pelvic, spinal and orthopedic conditions that have not responded to standard care, and works closely with each patient's physicians and physical therapists.
Read Dr. Gordon's full bioBook an Evaluation for Spinal Stenosis
Book a full evaluation with Dr. Gordon and address the muscle and nerve side of spinal stenosis.
Early morning, evening and weekend appointments available. Free on-site parking.
Further Reading
Herniated Disc: Does Everyone Need Surgery?
From the blog: Most herniated discs improve without surgery. What research shows about discs that shrink on their own, when surgery is the right call, and the warning signs.
Keep Reading