Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis commonly causes lower back or neck pain when degenerative conditions pinch the spinal nerves. Haddis T. Hagos, MD, DABA, DABA-PM, Brent Earls, MD, and the experienced team at Pain Management Associates LLC begin your treatment with conservative therapies and also specialize in advanced procedures that target the source of your pain, including a novel procedure called minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD®). To learn more about your treatment options, call the office in Greenbelt, Maryland, or request an appointment online today.

What is spinal stenosis?

Each spinal vertebra has openings that create pathways for the nerves. An opening in the middle of each vertebra creates the spinal canal, a protected space for the spinal cord. Small openings in the sides let nerves leave and return to the spinal cord.

Spinal stenosis refers to a narrowing in the bony pathways. A traumatic injury could damage the bone and narrow the opening. However, spinal stenosis most often occurs when one of the following conditions forces tissues to protrude into the opening:

• Herniated discs
• Osteoarthritis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Thickened ligaments
• Slipped vertebrae (spondylolisthesis)
• Bone spurs
• Spinal tumors

Symptoms begin when spinal stenosis compresses (pinches) the nerves.

What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis can affect your neck or lower back, causing:

• Low back or neck pain
• Pain shooting down one leg (sciatica) or arm
• Tingling or numbness in the leg or arm
• Weak leg or arm muscles
• Muscle pain (along your spine and in your legs or arms)
• Difficulty walking and poor balance
• Difficulty grasping items and weak hand strength
• Increased pain with prolonged sitting or standing

Though the severity of your pain may vary, many people struggle with severe symptoms.

How is spinal stenosis treated?

Your treatment begins with anti-inflammatory medication, pain relievers, and possibly steroid injections. Physical therapy often improves your symptoms by strengthening and stretching your spine.

If your symptoms don’t get better with conservative treatments, or you have severe or worsening symptoms, the team at Pain Management Associates LLC recommends interventional treatments. For example, spinal cord stimulation, epidural steroid injections, and radiofrequency ablation may improve your pain and give you the ability to return to your usual activities.

However, they are experts in an advanced procedure called minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD®). During this procedure, they make a tiny incision and remove the tissues that are narrowing the canal and pressing against your nerves.

This outpatient procedure repairs the source of the problem, yet it takes less than an hour and doesn’t require stitches. Most patients return to their usual activities the same day.

Don’t wait to get relief from spinal stenosis. Call Pain Management Associates LLC or book an appointment online today.