Spinal Stenosis Treatment - What Are The Options?

spinal stenosis

Deciding on a lumbar spinal stenosis treatment depends upon the case that's diagnosed to be the cause of the thinning of the spinal canal. For instance, both in degenerative disc disease and herniated disc, compression of the spinal cord and its nerve roots results from the protrusion of the components of the disc center ("nucleus pulposus"). Also, the compression of the nerve evolves as a result of abnormal curvatures of spine a.k.a spondylosis, or unstable spine (spondylolisthesis). In case the nerve being compacted by the spinal stenosis is the sciatic nerve, sciatica occurs.

Natural Back Pain Relief Exercises. Still, there exists several dispute around the efficiency of non-surgical treatment for spinal stenosis for the simple reason that these techniques will not correct the condition within the spine. Yoga, exercises and other natural back pain relief could only briefly relieve symptoms.

Spinal Decompression Therapy. Another type of treatment of spinal stenosis is spinal decompression therapy. Spinal decompression machines such as the VAX-D and the DRX9000 have been found to be able to correct compressed spinal canals brought on by degenerated or herniated discs.

However if the reason for the stenosis is bony spurs due to osteoarthritis, this procedure is actually contraindicated. Furthermore, in patients with accompanying osteoporosis, spinal decompression will not only aggravate the stenosis, it could even bring about fractures in vertebral bones.

Surgery. What is considered the best option among numerous spinal stenosis treatments is surgery. One of the most often conducted surgical procedure is laminectomy, which involves taking out the lamina or roof of the afflicted vertebral bone to be able to relieve the pressure upon the spinal cord.

As one invasive procedure, laminectomy isn't without its complications. Instability of the spine is most likely the primary complication of laminectomy. Because of this, the procedure is performed together with spinal fusion. Failed Back Syndrome (FBS) is another complication, in which there is a persistence of pain despite repeated back surgeries. Some of the factors that contribute to the development of this condition are: residual or recurrent disc herniation; persistent post-op pressure on a spinal nerve; cigarette smoking; scar tissue; altered joint mobility or joint hypermobility with lack of stability; historical past of systemic disorders (diabetes, autoimmune diseases, peripheral vascular disease); deconditioning of the spinal muscular; anxiety; and depression.

Cases like these, sufferers may require additional treatments, such as minor nerve blocks, TENS, NSAIDs, antidepressants, and epidural steroid injections.

Minimally-invasive Procedure. Recently, a spinal stenosis laser treatment that is minimally-invasive, like laminotomy, has been proven to work as a form of spinal stenosis treatment with only a small risk for the complications that accompany major surgery.