" "

Spinal Stenosis: Nonsurgical Treatments

Home > News > Spinal Stenosis: Nonsurgical Treatments
Posted: Oct 2, 2017 | by Alice | 0 Comment

spine center, spine specialists, spinal stenosis, Virginia Orthopaedic & Spine SpecialistsPain that travels down the leg. Foot problems. Numbness or weakness in the arms or legs. These symptoms could be caused by spinal stenosis.

Pressure on the spinal cord from a narrowing in the spine can affect your nerves and cause pain. It’s a common condition in men and women over the age of 50. Indeed, the most common cause of spinal stenosis is aging. As we get older, the bands of tissue that support the spine thicken and harden. Your bones and joints can get bigger and some surfaces can bulge out, which are called bone spurs.

Arthritis, scoliosis, tumors of the spine, injuries, calcium deposits and Paget’s disease can also cause spinal stenosis.

Sometimes you may have little to no symptoms. Or, you could have pain in the neck or in your back.

To diagnose spinal stenosis, an orthopaedic or spine specialist may use X-rays, MRI, CAT or Bone scans or a myelogram, which involves injecting liquid dye into your spinal column.

Fortunately, there are many nonsurgical treatments for spinal stenosis. They include:

  • Medication to reduce swelling and relieve pain
  • Limiting your activity
  • Exercises
  • Physical Therapy
  • Wearing a brace for your lower back

Your orthopaedic specialist will recommend nonsurgical treatment first unless you have symptoms that are so severe, you have problems with your nervous system or you have trouble walking and going to the bathroom. If that’s the case, you’ll need to consult an orthopaedic surgeon to come up with an appropriate treatment plan.

There are two main surgical procedures to treat lumbar spinal stenosis: laminectomy and spinal fusion. Both options can help people alleviate their pain.

+ Learn about The Spine Center of Hampton Roads which helps patients of all ages with back and neck pain. Our specialists use X-ray, MRI, CT, bone scan and other advanced diagnostic tools to evaluate each patient’s individual needs. Physical therapy is available at Bon Secours In Motion Physical Therapy locations throughout Hampton Roads.

 

 

Comments are closed.