Spinal Stenosis

What is spinal stenosis?

Your spinal vertebrae have openings that create protected passageways for nerves. An opening in the center of each vertebra forms the spinal canal, a space for the spinal cord. Smaller openings on the sides of vertebrae allow nerves to travel in and out of the spinal cord.

Spinal stenosis occurs when any of these bony spaces narrow. You could develop spinal stenosis following an injury damaging the bone. But in most cases, spinal stenosis is caused by a condition that protrudes into the open space, such as:

• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Thickened ligaments
• Facet joint arthritis
• Slipped vertebrae (spondylolisthesis)
• Bone spurs
• Spinal tumors

Each condition alone may cause pain, but additional pain arises as they pinch the nerves.

What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis? 

Spinal stenosis causes symptoms such as:

• Neck or back pain
• Pain or tingling in the arms or legs
• Numbness in the arms or legs
• Muscle weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
• Fatigue and increased pain when walking or standing

You may have such severe leg pain that it’s hard to walk.

How is spinal stenosis treated?

Spinal stenosis usually worsens over time, leading to increased pain that needs physical therapy and interventional treatments.

Your Sunshine Spine and Pain Specialists, PLLC, provider may recommend epidural steroid injections (to reduce nerve inflammation) or one of several interventional procedures that stop pain messages from reaching your brain. 

For example, spinal cord stimulation uses a mild electrical impulse to block nerve signals, while radiofrequency ablation stops pain messages using heat to wound the nerve.

Sunshine Spine and Pain Specialists, PLLC, also specializes in minimally invasive procedures specially designed to treat spinal stenosis, including:

Minimally invasive lumbar decompression (mild® procedure)

Your provider makes a tiny incision, inserts the innovative device, and uses it to remove soft tissues and small pieces of bones narrowing the spinal canal. You go home the same day, and most patients return to their usual activities within 24 hours without restrictions.

Superion® Indirect Decompression System (The Vertiflex® Procedure)

The Superion Indirect Decompression System uses a small incision to implant a tiny spacer between the vertebrae pinching a nerve. The spacer holds the vertebrae apart, effectively decompressing the nerve. 

To learn more about your treatment options for spinal stenosis, call Sunshine Spine and Pain Specialists, PLLC, or book an appointment online today.