Neurogenic claudication is a common symptom of lumbar spinal stenosis, or inflammation

Inflammation

Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...

 of the nerve

Nerve

A peripheral nerve, or simply nerve, is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of peripheral axons . A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons. Nerves are found only in the peripheral nervous system...

s emanating from the spinal cord

Spinal cord

The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...

. Neurogenic means that the problem originates with a problem at a nerve, and claudication

Claudication

Claudication, literally 'limping' , is a medical term usually referring to impairment in walking, or pain, discomfort or tiredness in the legs that occurs during walking and is relieved by rest. The perceived level of pain from claudication can be mild to extremely severe. Claudication is most...

, from the Latin for limp, because the patient feels a painful cramping or weakness in the legs. NC should therefore be distinguished from vascular claudication

Intermittent claudication

Intermittent claudication is a clinical diagnosis given for muscle pain , classically in the calf muscle, which occurs during exercise, such as walking, and is relieved by a short period of rest.Claudication derives from the Latin verb claudicare, "to limp".-Signs:One of the hallmarks of arterial...

, which is when the claudication stems from a circulatory problem, not a neural problem.

Neurogenic claudication can be bilateral or unilateral calf, buttock, or thigh discomfort, pain or weakness. In some patients, it is precipitated by walking and prolonged standing. The pain is classically relieved by a change in position or flexion

Flexion

In anatomy, flexion is a position that is made possible by the joint angle decreasing. The skeletal and muscular systems work together to move the joint into a "flexed" position. For example the elbow is flexed when the hand is brought closer to the shoulder...

 of the waist and not simply relieved by rest, as in vascular claudication. Therefore, patients with neurogenic intermittent claudication have less disability in climbing steps, pushing carts and cycling. In some patients with severe compression of the nerve roots, the NC is not intermittent but painfully persistent.

The pathophysiology

Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology is the study of the changes of normal mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions, either caused by a disease, or resulting from an abnormal syndrome...

 is thought to be ischemia

Ischemia

In medicine, ischemia is a restriction in blood supply, generally due to factors in the blood vessels, with resultant damage or dysfunction of tissue. It may also be spelled ischaemia or ischæmia...

 of the lumbosacral nerve roots secondary to compression from surrounding structures, hypertrophied facets, ligamentum flavum, bone spur

Bone spur

Osteophytes, commonly referred to as bone spurs, are bony projections that form along joint margins. They should not be confused with enthesophytes, which are bony projections which form at the attachment of a tendon or ligament.-Pathophysiology:...

s, scar tissue, and bulging or herniated discs.

In addition to vascular claudication, pseudo-trochanteric bursitis

Trochanteric bursitis

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome , also known as trochanteric bursitis, is inflammation of the trochanteric bursa, a part of the hip....

should be considered in the differential.