What does spinal stenosis affect?

Depends: Spinal stenosis in the neck can make someone weak and spastic (clumsy). Spinal stenosis of the low back can be painful, usually because of the facet arthritis involved with the process, it also causes weakness and forward leaning posture with high risk of fall. As it progresses, difficulties in emptying the badder, or incontinence. A person with stenosis should avoid walking down stairs.

Leads to pressure: On the the spinal cord (for cervical or thoracic spinal stenosis), and lead to pressure on nerves (in lumbar spinal stenosis). With decrease space where the nerves and spinal cord lives, they can start getting pressure, which leads to some variety of symptoms, depending on if the stenosis is localized in the cervical or lumbar spine, and how significant the stenosis is. See your spinal specialist.

Spinal stenosis.: Spinal stenosis in a condition wherein tissue grows around the spinal cord, causing gradual compression and pain. It's progressive and unrelenting. Unfortunately leading to debility and pain. Surgical options are available which may help, but left alone it'll cause progressive limitations. The rate of progression is unpredictable.

Nerves: Spinal stenosis refers to a narrowing or "pinching" of the nerves in the nerve canal and as such can cause a wide variety if symptoms that are nerve related: pain, burning, numbness, weakness, in coordination to name a few.