Spinal Stenosis Surgery

About This Treatment

To understand your options for spinal stenosis treatment, it helps to understand the different components of the spine. Vertebrae are the bones that connect to form your spine. The vertebrae protect and support your spinal cord and its nerves. Spinal stenosis occurs when the space within the vertebrae, the spinal canal, narrows. A narrowed spinal canal can pinch the spinal cord nerves.

Spinal stenosis usually affects people 50 and older. Loss of joint cartilage, osteoarthritis, a herniated disc or thickened tissue can cause spinal stenosis. Specialists at Franciscan Health may use an MRI, X-ray or CT scan to diagnose spinal stenosis.

Spinal stenosis surgery

The surgeons at Franciscan Health will discuss your options for spinal stenosis surgery with you. In many cases, spinal stenosis surgery involves a laminectomy and spinal fusion.

• Laminectomy: This procedure increases room in the spinal canal by removing part or all of the lamina, which is a part of the vertebral bone. Your surgeon may also remove bone spurs and ligaments pressing on the spinal cord or nerves.
• Spinal fusion: Spinal fusion involves placing pieces of bone around or between two vertebrae to join them together, making that part of the spine stable. Metal screws and rods may be used to hold the bone in place until it heals.

It might take several months to fully recover from spinal stenosis surgery. Spinal stenosis surgery is typically an inpatient procedure, and you should expect to stay overnight at the hospital.

We may recommend rehabilitation, such as physical therapy, during your recovery. Depending on your condition, your doctor may allow you to return to normal activities in a few weeks.

Nonsurgical spinal stenosis treatment

Although nonsurgical spinal stenosis treatments can manage symptoms, restore function and relieve pain, they don't reverse narrowing in the spinal canal. Treatments can include:

• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic manipulation
• Corticosteroid injections
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (aspirin and ibuprofen)
• Physical therapy