Spinal Stenosis

Understanding Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis occurs when the open spaces within your spine narrow, compressing the spinal cord and nerve roots. This condition most commonly affects the neck (cervical stenosis) and lower back (lumbar stenosis), with symptoms often developing gradually over time.

Common Symptoms

Symptoms vary by location but often include pain, numbness, or weakness in the back, neck, shoulders, arms, buttocks, or legs. Many patients experience cramping in the legs when walking (neurogenic claudication), which typically improves when sitting or leaning forward. Balance problems and, in severe cases, bowel or bladder dysfunction may also occur.

Primary Causes

The most common cause is age-related wear and tear (osteoarthritis), leading to bone spurs and thickened ligaments. Other causes include herniated discs, spinal injuries, tumors, Paget's disease of bone, and congenital conditions where people are born with a narrower spinal canal.

Accurate Diagnosis at Riceland Healthcare

Proper diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment. Our evaluation process includes a detailed medical history and physical examination, imaging studies such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans, and sometimes nerve function tests (EMG) to assess nerve damage.

Comprehensive Treatment Options

We develop personalized treatment plans based on your specific condition and symptoms. Conservative approaches include physical therapy to strengthen supporting muscles, anti-inflammatory medications, activity modification to avoid symptom triggers, and assistive devices like braces for added support.

When conservative measures provide insufficient relief, we offer advanced interventional treatments including epidural steroid injections to reduce nerve inflammation, minimally invasive procedures like the MILD procedure for lumbar stenosis, and surgical options such as decompression laminectomy or spinal fusion for severe cases.

Living Well with Spinal Stenosis

While spinal stenosis is often progressive, effective management can significantly control symptoms. We focus on pain reduction, functional improvement, mobility preservation, and prevention of symptom progression through a combination of treatments and lifestyle adjustments.

Why Choose Riceland Healthcare?

Our pain management specialists have extensive experience treating spinal stenosis with both conservative and advanced interventions. We take the time to understand your unique situation and develop a treatment plan aligned with your goals for pain relief and improved function.

Don't let spinal stenosis limit your life. Contact Riceland Healthcare today to schedule a comprehensive evaluation and explore your treatment options.