Spinal stenosis has both non-surgical and surgical options that are used to alleviate or eliminate the condition, depending on the severity of it. Sometimes a doctor will try the non-surgical options first. However, they don’t always work, or they may not work permanently – in which case surgery becomes the solution. It really depends where the stenosis is and what caused it. So let’s start at the beginning.

Spinal stenosis is related to degeneration in the spine and usually will become significant in the 5th decade of life and extend throughout every subsequent age group. As with many degenerative spinal conditions, most patients first visit their doctor with symptoms of spinal stenosis at about age 60.

Patients seek treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis when their symptoms cause serious limitations on activities, cause serious leg pain (usually in the form of sciatica) and/or difficulty with walking. Generally speaking, the various types of spinal stenosis produce similar symptoms. Leg pain (sciatica) often with some low back pain, leg numbness and tingling, with limitations, in walking are together the most common symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis. Although occasionally the symptoms and leg pain from spinal stenosis will come on acutely, they generally develop over the course of several years. The longer a patient with spinal stenosis stands or walks the worse the leg pain will get.

If you’ve been diagnosed with stenosis and surgery is being considered, you have probably already tried the following Non-surgical treatments for spinal stenosis:

• Exercise Program. Though not a cure, exercise and physical therapy may be helpful
• Activity modification. Examples of activity modification might include: walking while bent over and leaning on a walker or shopping cart instead of walking upright; stationary biking (leaning forward on the handlebars) instead of walking for exercise; sitting in a recliner instead of on a straight-back chair. Patients are usually counseled to avoid activities that cause the adverse symptoms of spinal stenosis. Patients are typically more comfortable while flexed forward.
• Epidural injections. An injection of cortisone into the space outside the dura (the epidural space) can temporarily relieve symptoms of spinal stenosis in about 50% of cases.
• Anti-inflammatory medication (such as ibuprofen, aspirin) may be helpful in treating spinal stenosis.

Some people may successfully manage the symptoms of spinal stenosis with the non-surgical therapies either for a period of time or indefinitely. The key in choosing whether or not to have surgery is the degree of physical disability and disabling pain from lumbar spinal stenosis. As a guideline, when the (usually elderly) patient can no longer walk sufficiently to care for himself or herself (such as to go shopping for essentials), then spinal stenosis surgery is usually recommended. Also, a doctor may suggest that surgery be performed if the patient complains of weakness or numbness that keeps them from walking and/or if they find that they cannot control their bowel or bladder.

Surgery is performed to relieve the pressure on the nerves and the spinal cord. The most common surgery that is performed is called decompressive laminectomy. This involves the removal of what is called the lamina of one or more of the vertebra to create more room for the nerves to pass through. After the individual has recovered from surgery, physical therapy and core strengthening through the use of weights are used to strengthen the spine as soon as the patient shows that he or she is ready to take this step.

Just as there are risks with any type of surgery, there are risks associated with surgery for spinal stenosis. The risks mostly involve the anesthesia that is used, but on rare occasions can cause a tear in the membrane that covers the spinal cord. More recently, a few new surgical approaches have also been introduced and other devices are in various stages of development and clinical trials. Therefore, find a doctor who answers all your questions and freely shares references from other patients.

What is Spinal Stenosis? ¦ Spinal Stenosis Solution