Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the lumbar and cervical spine. This causes pressure on the spinal cord or the spinal nerves. Many people with this condition suffer from numbness and cramping in the back, buttocks, thighs, calves, neck, shoulders or arms, in addition to feeling generalized weakness in the leg or arms. In some cases you may be unable to balance or even walk properly. However, there are both non-invasive and surgical options that can help correct this problem.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Your physician will offer a non-surgical choice to correct your spinal stenosis before doing any invasive procedures. The first option is usually physical therapy, which works to build up your strength and endurance as well as maintain the spine's flexibility. Physical therapy for spinal stenosis normally consists of a set of exercises that you do for up to three months. In addition to this, your physician may advise or prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain and inflammation. Other pain medications such as acetaminophen and Tylenol will help control the pain, but not the inflammation. In cases of severe pain, you can opt to have an epidural injection of corticosteroids to suppress the inflammation that causes pain.
You will also be ordered to rest plentifully to reduce pain and swelling, while making sure you have some mild exercise in between resting. Wearing a back brace may help tremendously in controlling pain that occurs upon movement. A back brace or corset helps support the spine, and it works especially well for people with weak abdominal muscles or a degeneration of any portion of the spine.
Decompressive Laminectomy
The main goals of surgical procedures for correcting spinal stenosis are to maintain the integrity and strength of the spine, while also relieving pressure on the spinal cord. The initial operation is usually a decompressive laminectomy. In this procedure, the surgeon removes lamina---the back part of the bone in your spinal canal. The laminae are removed to open up space for the nerves, and also to remove any bone spurs or ruptured discs.
The laminectomy is guided through a incision in your back and is considered an open surgery, although in some cases the surgeon can perform the procedure via keyhold surgery (laparoscopy). The latter requires great skill and precision on behalf of the surgeon.
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