Celling Treatment Centers

Spinal Stenosis Treatment Options

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal where the nerves run.

Spinal stenosis can occur in any region of the spine and is most common in the lumbar spine and cervical spine.

There are several causes of spinal stenosis. The most common cause is degenerative arthritis of the spine called spondylosis.

There are numerous treatment options for spinal stenosis. Most people start with physical therapy or chiropractic. If a satisfactory result is not obtained with one of these treatment options, then many people progress to epidural steroid injections.

These non-operative treatment options are reasonable in the early stages of spinal stenosis but are often are a waste of time and money. That is because, unlike many other conditions of the spine that do respond nicely to physical therapy and chiropractic, spinal stenosis is a fixed narrowing of the spinal canal.

An analogy would be lime in the pipes of a home. Until the lime is somehow removed or the piping is replaced, the piping will never be able to have uninterrupted flow of water.

Similarly, until the spinal stenosis is removed there will never be adequate space available for the nerves. All the physical therapy, chiropractic and epidural steroids available will never be able to open the canal again because it is a fixed narrowing from caused by bone spurs from arthritis.

For example, if you have ever seen a person with arthritis in their hands, the knuckles are enlarged. The pain may come and go; they may even get relief with physical therapy or a course of steroids. However, the knuckles will forever remain enlarged just like the joints in the spine. That is why spinal stenosis cannot be resolved without surgery.

Surgery Options for Spinal Stenosis

The primary goal of spinal stenosis treatment is to remove the narrowing of the spinal canal. This is termed, decompression.

Historically, spinal decompression was completed during open back surgery through a large incision with a procedure called a laminectomy. Unfortunately, this resulted in a lot of scar tissue that would heal to the nerves. This very painful condition has many names including post-laminectomy syndrome, epidural fibrosis and failed back surgery syndrome.

Some surgeons also recommend a spinal fusion since approximately 70% of people with spinal stenosis complain of back pain or neck pain. However, not all surgeons believe this is always necessary because many people obtain relief of the back pain once the nerves in the back are no longer pinched by the stenosis.

Contemporary Treatment

Today, modern minimally invasive spine surgery can decompress the spinal canal without the need for a large incision that can result in painful epidural fibrosis.

At Celling Treatment Centers, we use state-of-the-art minimally invasive techniques to decompress the spine during out-patient procedures that can provide fast relief. We not only address the spinal stenosis but also address the other causes of back pain or neck pain including the enlarged “knuckles” in the back or neck called facet joints as well the spinal disc.

Celling Treatment Centers believes spinal fusion should be the last choice for patients with spinal stenosis as most patients obtain quick relief of leg symptoms and back pain with decompression of the nerves and will not require a spine fusion.

Before you have open back surgery or a fusion of your neck (cervical fusion) or your lower back (lumbar fusion), let us review your MRI to determine if there is a reasonable alternative for you. There is no-obligation, of course.

In the News

Spinal Fusion Surgery for Spinal Stenosis Unnecessary - AMA

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