Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Treatment Options

We often complain about back pain and dismiss it as a strain due to activity. However, the cause of pain may be more serious and demand medical attention. The fact is, the older we get, the more health conditions we develop, and one such condition is lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). This happens with the narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back. Our lower back supports the body in multiple ways. It’s important to know the symptoms of stenosis and understand that it’s not just pain from regular strenuous activity.

The Symptoms

There are various symptoms associated with lumbar stenosis. You may be experiencing numbness, muscle weakness, or in rare cases, impaired bladder and bowel control. One or some of these symptoms may indicate LSS. While stenosis may occur in younger patients due to congenital issues, it’s predominantly found in patients 60 years of age or older, with more than 200,000 cases per year in the United States. You may experience radiating pain into one or both thighs, cramping in the calves, and the pain may improve with bending forward.

So How Do We Diagnose Lumbar Stenosis?

There are a variety of imaging studies that help diagnose patients with this condition including an X-ray, CT scan, or an MRI. With the advancement of medicine and the commonality of lumbar spinal stenosis among older patients, there are also many treatment options.

Treatment Options

At CSSI, we offer innovative methods of treating pain and improving function.

• Epidural injections are used to inject various chemicals (such as steroids or numbing medication) or PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) in the lumbar spine. This temporarily alleviates the pain.
• We strive for excellence in seeking out the most advanced and least invasive methods. MILD® is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that takes approximately an hour and has the safety profile of an epidural injection. This low-risk treatment removes the cause of stenosis through an incision the size of baby aspirin and has shown to significantly improve LSS pain and mobility.
• The Vertiflex™ Procedure is another alternative when conservative treatment has failed and surgery seems too aggressive. This procedure is minimally invasive and FDA- approved. During the Vertiflex™ Procedure, an implant is placed in the lumbar spine for decompression. It is clinically proven to provide long-lasting relief for patients suffering from LSS.