Lumbar canal stenosis is the condition that occurs when the spinal canal narrows over time as part of the natural aging process, specifically in the lumbar (lower) section of the spine. By itself, spinal stenosis does not necessarily cause any symptoms. In fact, depending on your age, it is entirely likely that your spinal canal openings are significantly more narrow now than when you were younger. This is only problematic when narrowing causes the impingement upon a spinal nerve, or the spinal cord itself. The symptoms of nerve compression may vary, but typically include pain, which radiates along the course of the entrapped nerve. Weakness, loss of reflexes, and tingling are other possible symptoms.
Treatment options
Lumbar canal stenosis can result in symptoms in the lower back, buttocks, hips, thighs, calves, ankles, feet, and even down to the toes. Many patients feel pain that radiates all the way down one or both legs. However, even for such far-reaching and often painful symptoms, conservative, nonsurgical treatments are usually very effective in mitigating the early symptoms caused by lumbar canal stenosis. Conservative therapy includes:
- Physical therapy
- Exercise
- Hot/cold therapy
- Massage
- Chiropractics
- Pain medications
- And others
Minimally invasive endoscopic procedures
If these conservative treatment therapies failed to ease your symptoms caused by lumbar or cervical canal stenosis, contact Laser Spine Institute. Our innovative outpatient endoscopic surgical procedures are minimally invasive alternatives to traditional open back surgery. Our orthopedic specialists have helped tens of thousands of patients correct the cause of their symptoms while avoiding the negative aspects of traditional open spinal surgery.
