Spinal stenosis treatment

Spinal stenosis treatment

Before going to discuss on the spinal stenosis treatment first we need to know a little bit about the spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of vertebral column that may occur in any region of the vertebral column. This narrowing of vertebral column leads to the pressure on the spinal cord as spinal cord is present within the vertebral column. This pressure on spinal cord leads to the back pinching pain. So to avoid this pain spinal stenosis should be treated

There are two types of treatment of spinal stenosis one is surgical treatment and other is non-surgical treatment.

Non-surgical treatment

It is of following types.

Physical therapy

Different types of stretching exercises and massage are helpful in relieving the symptoms of spinal stenosis.

Anti inflammatory drugs

NSAIDS like ibuprofen, mefnamic acid, and aspirin are used to relieve symptoms but their long term use may lead to the stomach ulcer and other GIT problems so always consult to your physician or pharmacist before using them.

Steroid injections

Steroid injections like cortisone can also be injected in the “epidural space” of spinal column to relieve symptoms.

Surgical treatments

Surgery is done in those patients who do not respond to the nonsurgical treatment. Surgical treatment improves the quality of life for the patients suffering from spinal stenosis.

There are two types of surgery mostly done.

Laminectomy

 It includes the removal of bone usually the back part (lamina) of the affected vertebrae. This vertebrae may be cervical or the lumbar. By the removal of the back part of the affected vertebrae the pressure on the spinal cord decreases thus causes pain relief.

Spinal fusion

In spinal fusion two or more vertebrae are fused together permanently so that vertebral column is made more stable and irrelevant motion of spine can be controlled thus leading to relief of pain which occurs due to motion of spinal column. The irrelevant motion actually puts pressure on spinal nerves. The spinal fusion can be done in affected region either cervical or lumbar region of the spinal cord.