Spinal Stenosis Specialist

What is spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis describes a narrowing of the space inside your spinal canal. This narrowness increases the likelihood of nerve compression and damage (radiculopathy) that can cause chronic neck or back pain. Other symptoms of spinal stenosis include:

• Weakness
• Tingling
• Cramping
• Prickling
• Pins-and-needles sensation
• Loss of function
• Numbness

The symptoms you develop vary depending on which nerves are affected. It’s likely that the pain and other symptoms will spread into other parts of your body too.

If you have cervical spinal stenosis in your neck, the symptoms might extend to your arms. If you have lumbar spinal stenosis in your lower back, symptoms might travel through your hips and into your legs. Leaning forward often reduces narrowing in your lumbar spine and eases the symptoms.

Many people have spinal stenosis without experiencing problems, while it can cause severe, long-term pain and disability for others.

What causes spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is very often a result of changes that take place as you age. Degenerative disc disease, where the spongy discs between your vertebrae flatten and harden, is one such change. The weakened discs might bulge, or herniate, which reduces space in your spinal canal.

Degenerative disc disease and conditions like arthritis may change the way your vertebrae align, which causes narrowing. Arthritis can also trigger the growth of bone spurs (small projections of bone that your body produces to support a weakened spine) and thickening of the ligaments.

Less common causes of spinal stenosis include tumors, trauma, and Paget’s disease, which causes an overgrowth of bone.

How is spinal stenosis treated?

The goal of treatment at Capital Pain Consultants is to address your symptoms by reducing the pressure on your spinal nerves. Some of the techniques they use to achieve this include:

• Physical therapy
• Stretching exercises
• Ice and heat
• Therapeutic massage
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Epidural steroid injections
• Nerve blocks
• Radiofrequency ablation

A combination of some of these treatments usually resolves the symptoms of spinal stenosis. However, if nothing else is working for you, your provider might suggest advanced interventions like spinal cord stimulation and intrathecal pain pump implantation.

These options change or block the pain messages traveling from your spinal nerves to your brain.

If your spinal stenosis symptoms are severe or failing to improve, consult the experts at Capital Pain Consultants. Call their office today to schedule a consultation, or book an appointment online.