Spinal Stenosis Column
Spinal Stenosis Symptoms Can Be Relieved Safely With Laser Spine Surgery
There is a seemingly endless list of back problems that can cause pain and discomfort, but one of the most common - especially for those over 65 - is spinal stenosis. This condition occurs when a bone spur or other tissue narrows the space inside the spinal canal and pinches the nerve. Spinal stenosis symptoms include pain, numbness, and/or tingling in one or both legs; discomfort when standing and relief when sitting; and/or weakness in legs. If these symptoms sound familiar, you may want to consult a doctor if you haven’t already. They can order a CT scan or MRI which can help determine if you are indeed suffering from spinal stenosis symptoms. If you find this to be true, and the pain has substantially reduced the range of activities you can take part in, than your doctor may suggest you consider surgery. Unfortunately the traditional surgery for relieving spinal stenosis symptoms also comes with a host of potential complications. But Laser Spine Institute offers an alternative that is safer for patients while still being highly effective.
Spinal Stenosis Treatment from Laser Spine Institute Can End Pain and Weakness in the Legs
Spinal stenosis occurs when a bone spur or other tissue narrows the spinal canal and squeezes the nerve. The result is pain and weakness in the legs that can be so severe it makes simply walking from room to room in your home a chore. Without spinal stenosis treatment, the symptoms are very unlikely to fade, so it’s time to consider your options. Traditionally, spinal stenosis treatment requires open back surgery in a hospital where muscle and bone are cut to access the surgery site. This requires general anesthesia and can lead to a painful and lengthy recovery process and also increases the chances of infection. For older patients - the people most likely to suffer from spinal stenosis - this can be as uncomfortable as the original pain and even dangerous. Fortunately Laser Spine Institute offers another spinal stenosis treatment that is safer for all patients.
Spinal Stenosis Treatments with Laser Surgery Versus Open-Back Surgery
After trying physical therapy, pain relievers, chiropractic care, and a back brace for your spinal stenosis, your doctor may explain that the only option left is open-back surgery. You, however, might not like the idea of checking into a hospital for an invasive procedure that requires general anesthesia, a large incision, a lengthy recovery time, and possible complications.
Treating Spinal Stenosis in a 5 Day Process at Laser Spine Institute
With symptoms such as radiating back and hip pain, cramping, neck pain, shoulder pain, and loss of balance, spinal stenosis can be excruciating to live with on a daily basis. Needless to say, anyone with an advanced form of this affliction probably wants relief from their symptoms as soon as possible so that they can to return to the activities they love, be it gardening, fishing, golfing, working, or carefree family time.
It is possible to find relief from spinal stenosis, but some treatments for serious cases involve invasive open-back surgery. Even after open-back surgery, patients still face a long recovery involving lingering pain, physical therapy, and the possibility that the surgery didn’t work.
Why Should Spinal Stenosis Patients Consider LSI?
The symptoms of spinal stenosis can greatly interfere with your ability to function - preventing you from visiting with friends and family, shopping, exercising, or even getting out of bed. When this occurs, it may be time to consider surgery.
Your doctor may have recommended open back surgery for your spinal stenosis, but this invasive option can leave you with a painful recovery lasting weeks or months. During your recovery from open back surgery, you will likely need regular physical therapy, and your pain may continue for months. Open back surgery also comes with its share of downsides including the use of general anesthesia, scarring, longer hospital stays, higher infection rates, etc.
When it appears that surgery is your only option for spinal stenosis, you should contact Laser Spine Institute to learn about our gentle, minimally invasive procedures. LSI performs more of these procedures than any other spine surgery center in the world. Other reasons to consider LSI include:
Spinal Stenosis Can Be Treated with Gentle, Minimally Invasive Laser Surgery
Spinal stenosis begins when a piece of bone or disc material narrows the spinal canal and puts pressure on the spinal cord. This condition can cause pain and numbness in the legs, back, neck, arms, and shoulders. It also may lead to cramping, discomfort when walking, and sometimes bowel or bladder problems requiring emergency care. In serious cases, spinal stenosis can greatly limit your ability to be active, enjoy your loved ones, or even get out of bed.
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
With lumbar spinal stenosis, the spinal canal becomes narrow. This is mostly due to aging as well as degeneration in the spine. The discs located between the vertebrae may become dehydrated, thus resulting in loss of density and no longer acting as a cushion between the bones.
Different Types of Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis can affect you in any of the major segments of the spine and is often termed with the segment affected. If there is surgery to be preformed it is very important for the surgeon to know the specifics of your spinal stenosis as it will guide the surgeon in locating the correct area for treatment.
Exercises for Spinal Stenosis
When considering treatment for spinal stenosis, exercises that emphasize forward bending (flexion of the spine) are often suggested by spine specialists and physical therapists. Treating spinal stenosis using flexion of the spine increases the amount of room in the spinal canal allowing for the irritated nerve to decompress and the pain to be resolved.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis
Cervical stenosis is defined as a tightening, or reduction of space available for the spinal cord and nerves in the cervical canal. As the final stages of degeneration in the spine occur, bone spurs, also referred to as osteophytes, can form leading to the development of cervical stenosis.
Spinal Stenosis Treatment
An accurate diagnosis is a must when forming a treatment plan for spinal stenosis. Leg pain that worsens when you walk is one of the most common symptoms shared by patients suffering from spinal stenosis. A physical examination will not provide enough conclusive evidence to form a proper diagnosis. A MRI or CT scan will provide your doctor with the proper information needed to correctly diagnose spinal stenosis.
Spinal Stenosis Symptoms
One of the most difficult challenges your doctor will face is properly diagnosing your condition.
It’s difficult to attaining an accurate diagnosis because spinal stenosis shares many common symptoms linked to other conditions. The most common symptom of lumbar spinal stenosis is leg pain. Leg pain as a result of lumbar stenosis is often referred to as sciatica.
Spinal Stenosis Surgery
If you are unable to perform daily activities, or the quality of your lifestyle has been severely affected by spinal stenosis symptoms, your health care provider may recommend spinal stenosis surgery as the next step in your recovery.
Cause of Spinal Stenosis
When reviewing statistics, we find that the age bracket most commonly affected by spinal stenosis in men and women is over fifty years of age. Although age is the main criteria when considering a natural occurrence of spinal stenosis, a younger person may be afflicted with spinal stenosis because they were either born with a narrowing of the spinal canal, or they have suffered from a traumatic injury to the spine.
What is Spinal Stenosis
Originating from Greek, the term stenosis means a choking. Lumbar spinal stenosis occurs when spinal nerve roots in the lower back are compressed or choked producing painful symptoms. Along with the pain come symptoms of weakness or numbness.