Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the space within the spinal canal this can put pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerves as they exit the spine. Spinal stenosis will usually occur in the cervical spine (neck) or in the lumbar spine (lower back).

Some people with spinal stenosis will not notice any pain, whereas others may experience pain, tingling, numbness and muscle weakness. For some patients, the symptoms may worsen over time.

In most cases, spinal stenosis is caused by wear and tear and spinal degeneration related conditions such as a herniated disc or osteoarthritis. Surgical treatment will usually only be recommended in severe cases.

Although spinal stenosis is often linked to age related wear and tear, it can also be caused by:

• Overgrowth of bone – osteophyte

• Herniated disc

• Thickened ligament

• Tumour

• Spinal injury

If you are suffering with the symptoms listed above or suspect that you have spinal stenosis, it is important that you go to see your GP. They will ask about your signs and symptoms, medical history and possibly do a physical examination. It is likely that you will be sent for a scan, such as:

• X-ray – this can help to show if there have been any changes to the bones

• MRI – this can help to show if there have been any changes with the discs, ligaments or even a tumour

• CT – this can be used in conjunction with an X-ray to help diagnose spinal stenosis

As with many conditions, surgery is the last resort. If you have spinal stenosis, you may be offered:

• Pain relief

• Physical therapy

• Steroid injections

• Minimally invasive laser decompression procedure

If these are unsuccessful, then you may be offered surgery. These are some of the different procedures that can be used to treat spinal stenosis:

• Laminectomy

• Laminotomy

• Laminoplasty

• Minimally invasive decompression surgery

• Decompression

If you would like to speak to our team about treatment for spinal stenosis, please contact our team on +44 161 327 0681 or email us at clare.wood@ciwpracticemanagement.co.uk to discuss the different treatment options available for you with Mr D’Urso.