What is Spinal stenosis? Part 2

What is treatment of spinal canal narrowing?

The majority of individuals with spinal stenosis can improve with non surgical methods. Initially bed rest and pain control are required. This should be followed by a physical therapy program which may last anywhere from 2-6 months

Who needs surgery for spinal canal narrowing?

In general, surgery for spinal canal narrowing is reserved for the very few individuals who continue to have back pain, remain disabled and are not able to work. Other individuals who need surgery are those who also develop bowel and bladder incontinence. When bowel and bladder incontinence occur, the management requires urgent surgery to remove pressure of the nerves

Can spinal narrowing occur elsewhere?

Sure, after the back, spinal canal narrowing is next most common in the neck.


What are symptoms of spinal canal narrowing in the neck?

The majority of people will complain of a headache, shoulder and upper arm pain, and also weakness in the arms. Most people with narrowing of spinal canal in the neck are not able to move their neck freely and have difficulty sleeping, walking, and working. The diagnosis of narrowing in the neck area is again best made by an MRI

Is surgery required for spinal stenosis narrowing?

Yes, but rarely. The results of surgery for back and neck pain from any cause are poor. The majority of people who undergo surgery are often in worse shape than what they started out with. If surgery produced good results, back pain would have been cured by now. Thousands of patients remain dis-satisfied by surgery. The decision to undergo surgery should not be undertaken lightly. Besides getting a good surgeon, one also has to have the right reasons to undergo the procedure.

What surgical procedures are used to treat spinal canal narrowing?

The classic procedure for narrowing of the spinal canal is called a laminectomy or laminoplasty. In either case, the spinal canal is slightly enlarged and pressure is taken off the nerves. There are many variations of the same procedure.

Does surgery help?

Judging by testimonials, surgery has not been of great benefit. While in some cases the reason has been a terrible surgeon, in most cases it is a combination of inappropriate surgery, poor patient selection, and not knowing what the hell is going on.

Final Note: Treatment of back pain is a billion dollar industry. The majority of treatments are quack therapies with false claims. The majority of people who sell/offer treatment for back pain only want your money. The large numbers of treatments for back pain should provide a clue that nothing works.