Have you been experiencing numbness, tingling, or weakness in your extremities? What about pain or cramping in your legs when standing or walking for long periods of time? If so, it’s possible that you may be experiencing spinal stenosis, a scary-sounding condition that luckily is very treatable by a reputed spinal stenosis doctor.
Dr. Gravori, a Los Angeles spine surgeon, is at the top of his field in treating spine-related conditions including spinal stenosis.
What is Spinal Stenosis?
What exactly is spinal stenosis? It’s a condition that is normally associated with aging, where the spinal column becomes narrower, thus placing pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. As we age, wear and tear on the spinal bones can lead to herniated discs, bone spurs, and abnormal growths, among other things. These in turn lead to pressures on the spinal cord or nerve roots, causing pain, numbness, cramping, and even in extreme cases incontinence due to bladder nerves being affected. If you are age 50 or over, you are at the most risk for spinal stenosis. However, it can affect younger people as well, usually in the case of a genetic disease that affects bone and muscle development.
Types of Spinal Stenosis
There are two main types of spinal stenosis: cervical (in the neck) and lumbar (in the lower back). If you are experiencing numbness or tingling in your arms and hands, this is associated with cervical stenosis. If you are experiencing pain and cramping in your legs, this could be lumbar stenosis. There is another form of stenosis as well, called foraminal stenosis, which is caused by arthritis or inflammation narrowing openings in the spine, leading to compression of nerve roots. All types are treatable with only mildly invasive surgery performed by a spinal stenosis doctor. More conservative, non-invasive treatment methods are also available, but may not address the underlying problem.
Treatments for Spinal Stenosis
Conservative treatments for spinal stenosis include physical therapy, medications, and steroidal injections; however, while these treatments may provide relief in the short term, symptoms may return or progress since the underlying cause wasn’t treated. If your symptoms reappear or get worse after trying non-invasive methods of treatment, a minimally invasive surgery may be recommended by your spinal stenosis doctor. There are different types of spinal stenosis surgery available, such as the MILD procedure, interspinous process decompression, percutaneous discectomy, percutaneous foraminotomy, and microscopic or endoscopic surgery. Expert Los Angeles spine surgeon Dr. Gravori offers all of these treatment options.
Diagnosis of Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis can sometimes be difficult to diagnose, because many of the symptoms are common signs of aging. To help confirm a diagnosis, imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT myelograms may be performed. MRIs are generally the test of choice to determine spinal stenosis, as they can reveal tumors, pressure on the spinal cord, and damage to disks and ligaments. If spinal stenosis is determined to be the cause of your symptoms, your primary doctor will most likely refer you to a specialized Los Angeles spinal stenosis doctor, such as spine surgery expert Dr. Gravori.
Watch Dr. Gravori Discuss Diagnosing Spinal Conditions
Contact a Los Angeles Spine Surgeon Today!
Dr. Gravori is a board-certified spine and neurological surgeon. He has over 30 years of education and experience, and his patient care is among the best. He is a leading expert in minimally invasive spine surgery, and he uses only the most advanced surgical techniques.
To learn more about Dr. Gravori’s treatment approach to spinal stenosis, or to schedule your initial consultation, please call 888-75-SPINE.
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