Chronic back pain or neck pain can be frustrating, especially if you finally receive a diagnosis of spinal stenosis that only leaves you with more questions.
At South Florida Interventional Orthopedics and Spine, patients in Miami and Davenport, Florida, come to renowned double board-certified specialist Seth Kaufman, DO, to find not only answers but also treatments that work.
If you’ve been told you have spinal stenosis, understanding what that diagnosis actually means is the first step toward finding relief and moving confidently into treatment.
Spinal stenosis describes narrowing of the spinal canal, the tunnel inside your spine that houses and protects the spinal cord and nerves. The main types of spinal stenosis are lumbar (affecting the lower back) and cervical (affecting the upper spine and neck).
When the tissues inside the spinal canal swell, they narrow the space, making it too tight. This puts significant pressure on the delicate nerves there. Although many patients don’t have any symptoms with spinal stenosis, others may have highly disruptive pain.
At least 90-95% of spinal stenosis is acquired, meaning it develops gradually due to age-related changes in the spine.
These changes may include disc flattening or bulging, spinal arthritis, bone spurs, or ligament thickening that can narrow an already-slender space.
Symptoms depend on where the narrowing occurs. When it affects the neck, pain may radiate into the shoulders and arms. In the lower back, it often shoots into the hips, buttocks, or legs. Many patients also experience frustrating issues like numbness, tingling, weakness, or heavy-feeling legs.
A telltale sign of lumbar spinal stenosis is back pain that worsens with standing or walking but eases when you sit, especially if you lean forward.
A spinal stenosis diagnosis doesn’t automatically mean you need surgery. Most patients respond well to more conservative, nonsurgical treatments that focus on relieving pressure on the nerves and improving function.
Dr. Kaufman may recommend options such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, or targeted injections to calm irritation around the nerves.
In some cases, more advanced nonsurgical options such as nerve blocks or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can provide longer-lasting relief by interrupting pain signals.
Your treatment is also informed by your health as a whole. For example, while spinal stenosis often causes nerve-related symptoms, many patients also experience mechanical back pain related to arthritic joint degeneration. Addressing both sources is key to lasting relief, so Dr. Kaufman may suggest a combination approach.
Although the majority of patients experience excellent pain relief with nonsurgical care for spinal stenosis, stubborn ongoing pain may require another approach. For example, Dr. Kaufman may recommend a spinal decompression procedure that removes problem-causing tissues to widen the spinal canal.
At South Florida Interventional Orthopedics and Spine, we understand that a spinal stenosis diagnosis can feel intimidating and confusing, but we’re here to guide you through it and back to your life.
If you’re experiencing symptoms or want help understanding your diagnosis, contact us online or by phone today to schedule a consultation and explore your options.
