Six months after L5 hemilaminectomy and discectomy a patient experienced diffuse radiating symptoms to the right leg, especially in the standing position. Conventional supine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed some scar tissue in the L5 spinal recess but no signs of nerve root compression to neurogenic claudication. Subsequently, an MRI with the patient in standing position displayed lateral recess stenosis and nerve root compression. This supports the notion that spinal stenosis should be regarded as a dynamic phenomenon also in the diagnostic workup setting.