Cervical and Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Description of Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar

Spinal Stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal by a piece of bone or disc material. This can cause weakness in your extremities. This narrowing results in pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerves. Spinal stenosis can occur in a variety of ways in the spine. Most cases of spinal stenosis occur in the lower back (lumbar spine) and will affect the sciatic nerve, which runs along the back of the leg.

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Causes of Spinal Stenosis

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Spinal Stenosis Aging-With age, the body's ligaments (tough connective Click here to learn about your arthroscopic alternative to correct Spinal Stenosis tissues between the bones in the spine) can thicken. Spurs (small growths) may develop on the bones and into the spinal canal. The cushioning disks between the vertebrae may begin to deteriorate. The facet joints (flat surfaces on each vertebra that form the spinal column) also may begin to thicken. Aging with secondary changes is the most common cause of spinal stenosis.
Heredity-If the spinal canal is too small at birth, symptoms of spinal stenosis may show up in a relatively young person.Structural deformities of the involved vertebrae can cause narrowing of the spinal canal.

Tumors of the spine-Abnormal growths of soft tissue that may affect the spinal canal directly by inflammation or by growth of tissue into the canal. Tissue growth may lead to bone resorption (bone loss due to overactivity of certain bone cells) or displacement of bone and the eventual collapse of the supporting framework of the spinal column.
Trauma-Accidents and injuries may either dislocate the spine and the spinal canal or cause burst fractures that produce fragments of bone that penetrate the canal.
Paget's disease of bone-This chronic (long-term) disorder usually results in enlarged and deformed bones. The disease can affect any bone of the body, but is often found in the spine.
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questions Blood supply-The blood supply that feeds healthy nerve tissue may be diverted to the area of involved bone.
Fluorosis-Fluorosis is an excessive level of fluoride in the body. It may result from chronic inhalation of industrial dusts or gases contaminated with fluorides, prolonged ingestion of water containing large amounts of fluorides, or accidental ingestion of fluoride-containing insecticides. The condition may lead to calcified spinal ligaments or softened bones and to degenerative conditions like spinal stenosis.

Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis may result in low back pain as well as pain in the legs. Spinal stenosis may pinch the nerves that control muscle power and sensation in the legs. Additional symptoms may include:

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Numbness, tingling, hot or cold feelings in the legs
Weakness or a heavy and tired feeling in the legs.

Treatment of Spinal Stenosis

Recommended treatment is generally open back surgery, with high risks, hospital stays and lengthy recuperation time. Laser Read real testimonials
from real patients Spine Institute (LSI) has minimally invasive, outpatient surgery, laser-assisted procedures that can correct the causes of spinal stenosis and leave the patient free of the painful symptoms, called a Foraminotomy or a Laminotomy. These laser spine procedures will remove the portion of the disc or bone spur that is now pressing against a nerve causing the symptoms of spinal stenosis. By removing or shrinking the disc with the laser and removing any bone spurs, we can decompress the spinal cord or nerve root that is being impinged. At this point excess disc material is removed and the symptoms of spinal stenosis typically disappear.

Click Here to see how you can get your life back in 5 daysOnce the procedure is complete, the patient (with a companion) is free to go after 1 - 2 hours of monitoring. We generally encourage patients to take a long walk the afternoon or evening of their procedure. The patient then returns the following day for a post-operative visit to get clearance from the doctor to return home.