Dr. Leon Reyfman at 杏吧原创 approach spinal stenosis treatment by identifying where the narrowing occurs, how it affects the spinal cord and nerves, and which plan is most appropriate for each patient. We specialize in interventional procedures using the latest pain management techniques. With extensive experience in treating this condition, our team offers a wide range of options, including minimally invasive surgical intervention.
Spinal stenosis is a condition that causes your spinal canal to narrow. It can be caused by wear-and-tear over the years or an injury to your back. Spinal stenosis surgery may be considered when other approaches to spinal stenosis treatment such as cortisone injections and physical therapy haven鈥檛 delivered sufficient pain relief.
If you鈥檝e been diagnosed with spinal stenosis or if you have significant neck pain or back pain, see your pain doctor. If you experience cramps, weakness, numbness, or tingling in your arms, legs, hands, or feet, you require the attention of leading pain management doctors. At our pain center, our top-rated specialists determine the most appropriate spinal stenosis treatment tailored to your specific needs.
Conditions that Benefit from Spinal Stenosis Surgery
Spinal stenosis occurs when something happens to cause the open space in your spine to become narrower. If it becomes too narrow, you feel pain even when you stay still. Your Manhattan pain management doctor may recommend spinal stenosis surgery.
- Bone spurs. Arthritis in the neck or back can cause an overgrowth of bone, called bone spurs, into the spinal canal.
- Thickened ligaments. Over time, the ligaments can become thickened and stiff. These are the strong cords that hold the bones of your spine together. Stiff ligaments may pressure your spinal cord.
- Herniated discs. The discs between your vertebrae are designed to provide support and cushioning. They can dry out with age, and the softer nucleus of a disc then pushes through the outer edge and toward the spinal column. This is also known as a ruptured disc or a slipped disc.
- Spinal injuries. When your spine is injured in a car accident, sports injury or other type of trauma, vertebrae can be dislocated or fractured. As nearby tissue swells, it puts pressure on the spinal cord.
- In rare cases, abnormal growth can form inside the spinal column, causing the area to narrow and stressing your spinal cord.
- Congenital spinal stenosis. Some people are born with a small spinal canal, causing pain from an early age.
What to Expect from Spinal Stenosis Surgery
The goal of the surgery is to decompress the affected area to relieve pressure on your spinal cord or nerve roots and create more space in the spinal canal. The most common type of minimally invasive surgery for spinal stenosis is called a laminectomy. In this procedure, a portion of the vertebrae known as the lamina is removed in order to ease pressure on the nerves by creating more space around them.
If you鈥檙e suffering significant instability, your pain specialist may opt to perform a spinal fusion surgery, which means the affected vertebra is linked to adjoining vertebrae using metal hardware and possibly a bone graft. Laminoplasty is a procedure done as a form of cervical spinal stenosis treatment in which space within the spinal canal along your neck is opened by using metal hardware.
Recovery from Spinal Stenosis Surgery
When you have lumbar spinal stenosis surgery or cervical spinal stenosis surgery done by one of the best pain management doctors in NYC, your risk of complications is greatly reduced. You may experience some discomfort for a few days after surgery, which is normal and can be controlled with anti-inflammatory or analgesic medication. Doctors usually recommend light exercise within a few days after surgery to reduce swelling and prevent stiffness.
Pain in your back or your neck is something you shouldn鈥檛 have to continually experience. Contact 杏吧原创 for an appointment and consultation. Experienced pain management doctors listen to your concerns, do what鈥檚 necessary to reach an accurate diagnosis and then develop a treatment plan designed to meet your goals and lifestyle requirements.
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Leon Reyfman, MD, FIPP, RPh
(Pain Management Doctor)