Spinal stenosis is one of the most common causes of neck pain and back pain, affecting an estimated 500,000 individuals in the U.S. The condition is characterized by a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the spinal cord or exiting nerve roots. Stenosis is often the result of degenerative changes within an aging spine and may lead to chronic pain or neurological deficit. When symptoms progress or are poorly managed by conservative treatments, minimally invasive surgery may be used to decompress the spinal cord or affected nerve roots and provide lasting relief.
The expert doctors at ProMedSPINE are board-certified spine and neurosurgeons with expertise in advanced minimally invasive spine surgery. Dr. Gravori and his team have undergone extensive training in the cutting-edge surgical techniques, including microscopic and laser spine surgery, and incorporate the most sophisticated technologies into their Los Angeles-based practice. To learn more about our minimally invasive spine surgery or to schedule your initial consultation, please call 888-75-SPINE.
To learn more about this spinal stenosis, please visit Spine-Health.com.
Types of Spinal Stenosis
Stenosis can occur throughout the length of the spine, but is most common in the neck (cervical stenosis) and the lower back (lumbar stenosis). Pain, numbness, weakness or tingling in the arms/hands and the legs may indicate cervical spinal stenosis. Patients with lumbar stenosis experience the same symptoms but limited to the lower back, legs, and feet.
Foraminal stenosis is another version of the condition, in which openings along the spine become narrowed due to arthritis or inflammation and compress nerve roots as they branch out from the spinal cord.
Causes and Diagnosis
Spinal stenosis in the neck or back may develop due to a variety of acute and chronic spinal conditions:
- Herniated (slipped) discs
- Thickening of spinal ligaments
- Bone spur formation
- Enlargement of the facet joint
- Spine tumors
- Spine trauma
If you are experiencing pain in the neck or back accompanied by neurological deficit, our experienced doctors will thoroughly evaluate your symptoms during a comprehensive medical history. Imaging studies including X-ray, MRI, CT scan, Myelogram, and/or Bone scans may be conducted to confirm a diagnosis of spinal stenosis.
Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Our back doctors recommend treatment whenever a patient’s spinal stenosis is associated with pain and neurological symptoms. Left untreated, these symptoms typically worsen over time and increase the risk of serious complications such as loss of sensation and bowel function or paralysis. Conservative therapies (physical therapy, medications, steroidal injections) may be attempted first to limit inflammation and control pain, but these will not address the underlying problem within the spine.
Patients with severe neurological deficit or pain that is not relieved through non-operative treatments may be eligible for surgery. At ProMedSPINE, virtually every spinal stenosis surgery is done using a minimally invasive approach on an outpatient basis. Dr. Gravori and his team specialize in the following cutting-edge procedures:
- Mild Procedure – Performed through an incision about the size of a baby aspirin, the mild procedure involves removing small pieces of bone and excess ligament that can cause compression in the lumbar spine and lead to spinal stenosis
- Interspinous Process Decompression – An implant is placed between two of the outward protruding bones along the back (spinous processes) to decompress the lumbar region and relieve stenosis without removing any bone or soft tissue
- Percutaneous Discectomy – A laser procedure that is used to relieve compression of the spinal canal due to herniated (bulging) disc material
- Percutaneous Foraminotomy – A laser procedure that is used to remove bits of bone and ligament that have compressed nerve roots running through the foraminal space (foraminal stenosis)
- Microscopic/Endoscopic Surgery – Microsurgery involves using an high-tech optical tool through a small incision directly over the spine; this allows for spinal decompression through the removal of bone/ligament (laminectomy) or disc material (discectomy) with unparalleled precision
Contact Beverly Hills Spinal Experts Today
Todd Gravori, MD and his team are board-certified neurosurgeons with fellowship training in advanced spine surgery. They are leading experts in minimally invasive spine surgery and utilize the most advanced surgical techniques to treat scoliosis and other conditions affecting the spine.
To learn more about spinal stenosis surgery or to schedule your initial consultation at ProMedSPINE, please contact our offices today.
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