Spinal Stenosis

• Back or neck pain
• Numbness or tingling in one or both arms, hands, legs or feet
• Weakness in one or both arms, hands, legs or feet
• Decreased hand function
• Pain that starts in the buttock that radiates down the leg and into the foot
• Foot problems
• Balance or walking issues
• Heavy feeling in the legs
• Leg cramping\
• Pain that worsens when standing or walking
• Bowel or bladder disfunction

Although spinal stenosis can be congenital (from birth), this condition is typically acquired (developed after birth).

It commonly affects the lower back (lumbar spinal stenosis) or the neck (cervical spinal stenosis). Although it can affect the middle back (thoracic spine stenosis), this is rare.

Lumbar spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal in your lower back narrows, placing pressure on nearby nerve roots. It can be caused by the formation of bone spurs, thickening of a nearby ligament or degeneration of a lumbar disk or joint.

Nerve root compression can be painful. Spinal stenosis causes back pain, and eventually, it can result in sciatica, pain that radiates down the lower extremities.

There is no cure for spinal stenosis, but treatment can relieve symptoms and help you manage your pain. Treatment plans vary depending on the type, cause and severity of symptoms.

Your health care team may use one or more of the following methods to treat and manage spinal stenosis:

• Oral medication – Your doctor may recommend you take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID) such as ibuprofen or aspirin for a short period of time to reduce mild pain or swelling. Your doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants if you have muscle cramps or spasms.
• Physical therapy and exercise – Your doctor may suggest you work with a physical therapist for nonsurgical ways to reduce your pain and restore function. Rehabilitation therapies commonly used include core-strengthening exercises to improve posture, stretching to improve range of motion and gentle massage.
• Heat – Gentle heat increases blood flow, which can relax muscles and relieve pain. Be careful to avoid burning yourself if you apply heat.
• Injection-based treatment – One or more therapies may be performed by injection (administered with a needle) to address nerve pain and reduce inflammation, such as corticosteroid injections.

Surgery may be recommended to create more space in the spine if symptoms are severe or pain doesn’t improve with conventional treatments. Whenever possible, our surgeons use minimally invasive techniques to speed up recovery and reduce the risk of complications.

Spinal fusion can be performed along with other surgical procedures for spinal stenosis, such as laminectomy (to relieve pressure by removing bone to enlarge the spinal canal) and foraminotomy (to relieve pressure on compressed nerves).