Is There a Cure for Spinal Stenosis?

Your spinal canal is made up of several tissues, including bones, muscles, and tendons, surrounded by fluid-filled space. When you have spinal stenosis, that space has grown narrow, leading to pressure on your spinal cord or nerves.

While there’s no known cure for spinal stenosis, effective treatment can help slow down its progression and minimize your symptoms.

Dr. Nicholas Perenich and his team at Spine Institute of Florida in Dade City and Spring Hill take a comprehensive approach to spinal stenosis treatment, offering both conservative and surgical options.

If you or a loved one has spinal stenosis, read on to learn more about the condition — including advanced treatments that could be the next best thing to a cure.

Who gets spinal stenosis

Anyone can develop spinal stenosis, but certain factors raise your risk. For some people, it stems from a congenital problem or a spinal injury, such as a fracture. Chronic conditions, like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and scoliosis, can also contribute.

Because of accumulative wear-and-tear, spinal stenosis is especially common after age 60. Over one in 10 older adults in the United States experience it in the lower back (lumbar region). 

Spinal stenosis symptoms

Spinal stenosis doesn’t always cause noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do unfold, they tend to include pain, muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling.

If you have lumbar spinal stenosis, your symptoms likely affect your lower back and legs. You might experience chronic low back pain, for example, and leg cramping or aches when you stand, exercise, or walk for a while.

Spinal stenosis in the neck causes similar symptoms, but the pain may affect your neck and upper spine area. You may also struggle with balance and walking normally, or find that your extremities tingle or feel weak.

Severe spinal stenosis, especially if goes untreated, can lead to loss of bladder or bowel control, severe mobility challenges, or even partial or full leg paralysis.

Spinal stenosis treatment

Spinal stenosis treatment often starts with conservative options, such as anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, therapeutic cervical traction, or chiropractic care. Our team also offers in-office procedures, such as epidural steroid injections and radiofrequency ablation, to reduce spinal stenosis pain.

For severe or treatment-resistant symptoms, we may recommend minimally invasive spine surgery to broaden the space in your spine. This procedure has an over 90% success rate for bringing long-term symptom relief and improving mobility.

To learn more about spinal stenosis treatment or get started with personalized care, call Spine Institute of Florida or schedule an appointment through our website today.