Spinal Stenosis: All You Ever Wanted to Know and More

What is spinal stenosis?
By definition, spinal stenosis is when one’s spinal column and/or foramina (openings that branch away from the spinal canal providing pathways for root nerves) narrows—putting pressure on the spinal cord or root nerves. The word “stenosis” comes from the Greek word, “choking.” Therefore, spinal stenosis could almost be described as, “choking one’s spine.” 

Mostly affecting the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) parts of the spine, spinal stenosis can interfere with nerve function and cause pain in one’s back and/or other parts of the body. 

Watch this video about spinal stenosis

What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis?

Symptoms of spinal stenosis depend on its location and severity of the condition. Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Cervical (neck)
  • Pain, weakness, numbness and tingling in the arms/hands/fingers
  • Loss of dexterity often leading to dropping items
  • Stiff or sore neck
  • Pain around the shoulder blades
  • Tremors in the arm or hand
• Lumbar (lower back)
  • Leg pain, weakness and/or numbness
  • Difficulty or poor balance when walking; clumsiness
  • Sciatica—a burning pain throughout the buttocks and down the legs
  • Increased leg pain when walking that is diminishes when resting
  • Foot pain
  • Pain in the buttocks
  • Hip pain and/or weakness

More severe cases of spinal stenosis may include loss of bladder or bowel control. Patients experiencing these symptoms should seek emergency help right away.

How is spinal stenosis diagnosed?
The most common procedures used to diagnose spinal stenosis are:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to get detailed images of spinal discs. MRIs use a giant magnetic that circles the body.
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan with myelogram is an X-ray used with a special dye injected into the spinal fluid. The CT scan is used to help identify the “bony” causes of spinal stenosis, while the dye helps diagnose soft tissue conditions such as disc herniation or a bulge.
• Selective nerve root block (SNRB) is when a local anesthetic is injected into a nerve root suspected of being affected by spinal stenosis. If the patient’s pain goes away after the injection, it can be determined that the compressed nerve is the cause of pain.

What causes spinal stenosis?
There are a number of conditions that can cause spinal stenosis, including, but not limited to, a herniated disc(s), osteoarthritis, bone diseases, a dislocated or fractured vertebral bone, thickened spinal ligaments, excess growth of bone around the spinal nerves, an injury or blunt trauma that creating pressure on the nerve roots or spinal cord, tumors in the spine and people born with a smaller spinal canal (congenital condition).

What are the different spinal stenosis treatments?
Typically, a combination of treatments works best to treat spinal stenosis. Treatment options may include:

• Exercise
• Activity modification
• Medication
• Physical therapy
• Heat and ice therapy
• Injections
• Surgery

Does spinal stenosis require surgery?
In some cases, surgery is required. SpineOne is dedicated to minimally invasive options whenever possible and will do everything we can to avoid surgery.

Where can I get treatment for spinal stenosis?
If you suffer from chronic or acute back pain and cannot find relief, you should always contact a spine specialist like the physicians at SpineOne.  SpineOne offers a comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and treatment plan tailored to meet the needs of each individual patient. The physicians at SpineOne practice minimally invasive procedures combined with other practices to get you back on your feet and enjoying your life again. SpineOne provides doctor consultations, MRIs and treatments all from the same facility for your convenience. Same-day appointments are also available upon request.

Visit www.SpineOne.com or call 303.500.8611 today.

There are Alternatives to Spinal Surgery. You Should Always Get a Second Opinion.

Back pain can be debilitating, and when it is keeping you on the sidelines of your life, you may be willing to consider any treatment that will work, including surgery. There are occasions when back surgery is the best option for relieving your pain, but it’s not the only choice you have. There are often alternative treatments to surgery for back pain associated with symptoms from conditions such as herniated or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative discs, osteoarthritis and more.

Before you undergo surgery, visit a spine specialist like the physicians at SpineOne for an assessment to determine if other, less-invasive treatments may be the better choice for you.  With minimally invasive treatment options, like the ones at SpineOne, you get:

Fast Recovery 
With back surgery, you may face a hospital stay followed by an extended period of bed rest. This means that you will need to take time off from work and that you won’t be able to handle your family responsibilities as you normally would. With most of our treatments, you’re ready to get back to life as soon as the treatment is over. No in-patient care is required and you can start to get relief from your back pain right away.

Conservative Pain Therapies 
In the wake of surgery, your doctor will likely prescribe powerful medications to manage your back pain. These medications can leave you feeling groggy and can be habit-forming. At SpineOne, we can manage your pain using targeted injections and therapeutic care to provide you with relief without the side effects of strong medications.

Tailored, Comprehensive Treatment Plans
At SpineOne, our spine specialists tailor comprehensive treatment plans for each individual patient. We incorporate minimally invasive and innovative treatments often including physical therapy to address back pain. There is no cutting involved which means you won’t face the risks associated with surgery, and you won’t have any scarring. You face fewer potential complications with our treatments, many of which are completely natural. Our minimally invasive treatments also leave you with less pain after care than you would experience recovering from surgery.

If you are considering open- or laser-spine surgery, visit the doctors at SpineOne for a second opinion. The back specialists at SpineOne can likely relieve back or neck pain without surgery.

Call us at 303.500.8611 or visit www.spineone.com to learn more about our services.  For your convenience, SpineOne offers same-day appointments with consultation, imaging and treatment all within one facility.