Spinal Stenosis Treatment

Spinal stenosis is a potentially debilitating spine condition that causes significant pain and numbness. Those who suffer from spinal stenosis may lose the ability to move and walk like they once did. Fortunately, comprehensive treatment for spinal stenosis is available in Paducah, KY. This guide provides what you need to know about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for spinal stenosis to take control of your spinal health.

What is Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is a condition where the small spinal canal, which contains the nerve roots and spinal cord, becomes compressed. This pinches the nerves and spinal cord, causing pain, cramping, weakness, or numbness affecting the lower back and legs, neck, shoulders, or arms.

What Causes Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is commonly caused by degenerative changes in the spine related to aging and osteoarthritis. As people get older, the ligaments in the spine can thicken, and bone spurs or bulging discs can develop, narrowing the spinal canal. Women, people born with naturally narrow spinal canals, and those who have had previous spinal injuries or spinal surgery are also at higher risk. Other potential causes include Paget's disease, spondyloarthritis, and spinal tumors.

Recognizing the Telltale Signs of Spinal Stenosis

The most common symptoms of spinal stenosis include pain in the back or neck, numbness, weakness, cramping or pain in the arms or legs, and pain radiating down the leg (sciatica). People with spinal stenosis may also experience abnormal bowel or bladder function, and in severe cases, partial or complete leg paralysis. Symptoms often start slowly and worsen over time ultimately reaching the point where walking short distances becomes unbearable. Spinal stenosis can greatly diminish a person's mobility and quality of life.

Exploring Treatment Options for Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis can be treated through a variety of conservative and surgical approaches, depending on the severity of the condition and the individual patient's needs.

Conservative treatments are often the first choices for mild to moderate spinal stenosis. Conservative treatments for spinal stenosis include physical therapy to improve strength, flexibility, and posture; medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relievers, and muscle relaxants; lifestyle modifications like maintaining a healthy weight, using assistive devices, and modifying daily activities can also provide relief. The goal of surgery is to decompress the spinal cord and nerve roots by removing the bone, ligaments, or disc material that is narrowing the spinal canal.

The Spinal Stenosis Treatment Procedure

When conservative treatments fail to adequately manage symptoms, or the spinal stenosis is severe, surgical options may be considered.
The most common surgical procedures to treat spinal stenosis include:

Laminectomy – The spine surgeon removes the bone (i.e., lamina) and overgrown ligament that is putting pressure on the nerves or spine
Laminotomy – The spine surgeon creates a small hole in the back part of the affected vertebra (i.e., lamina), which increases space within the spinal canal.
Laminoplasty – The spine surgeon creates space in the spinal canal in your neck similar to laminotomy and laminectomy, expect in laminoplasty, a metal hinge is put on the lamina to preserve the bone.
Discectomy – The spine surgeon removes the intervertebral disc that is causing narrowing of the spinal canal. This may be combined with artificial disc replacement or spinal fusion. In artificial disc replacement, the natural disc is replaced with an artificial one. In spinal fusion, the spinal bones above and below the affected disc are fused together.

How long is the recovery for different spinal stenosis treatment options?

Recovery from these procedures can be as little as a few days for minimally invasive approaches that require only a small extraction of bone, e.g., laminotomy or as long as 6 months if spinal fusion is required. Dr. Strenge will work with you to determine the best treatment option for your specific condition.

Patient Experiences and Testimonials

One of the best ways to find the right surgeon in Kentucky is to hear what other patients have to say. Dr. Strenge has an extensive collection of patient testimonials with more available in his office. Spinal stenosis surgery can greatly improve a patient’s quality of life and well-being, so Dr. Strenge’s results speak for themselves.

Receive a Consultation at Strenge Spine Center

Spinal stenosis is a complex condition that can greatly impact an individual's daily life, but there are effective treatment options available. By working closely with Dr. K Brandon Strenge, patients in Paducah, KY can develop a personalized plan to address their specific needs and find the relief they deserve. Whether through conservative measures or surgical interventions, the goal of spinal stenosis treatment is to alleviate the debilitating symptoms of spinal stenosis and help patients regain their mobility and quality of life. However, to get these treatment benefits, patients must select an experienced spine surgeon.

Dr. Strenge is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive spinal surgery including all modern spinal stenosis treatments and motion-preserving procedures to treat cervical and lumbar spine disorders. If you are suffering from spinal stenosis in and around the Paducah, KY area, contact Dr. Strenge today to schedule a consultation.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How can I determine the most suitable treatment option for spinal stenosis in Paducah, KY?

Paducah is a mid-sized city in western Kentucky. There are only a few doctors who specialize in treating spinal stenosis in Paducah. Ideally you should choose a doctor who can provide the entire spectrum of spinal stenosis treatment options, from conservative treatments to all forms of spinal stenosis surgery. This means that patients should choose a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who has deep experience treating spinal stenosis including fellowship training. Importantly, the spine surgeon should be committed to finding the best, most appropriate management plan based on your individual needs. By taking this localized, patient-centered approach, individuals in Paducah, KY can find the most effective solution for managing their spinal stenosis and improving their quality of life.

What is the expected recovery process following a spinal stenosis procedure?

For minimally invasive spinal stenosis procedures, such as laminectomy, laminotomy, or laminoplasty, the recovery time is typically faster than traditional open surgeries. Patients in Paducah who undergo minimally invasive spinal stenosis surgery may expect a shorter hospital stay, decreased post-operative pain and swelling, and a quicker return to daily activities. Specific recovery timelines vary, but many patients are able to resume normal activities within a few weeks to a few months, depending on the extent of the procedure and their individual healing process. If you need physical therapy before or after spinal stenosis surgery, choose a spine surgeon who closely works with physical therapists in Paducah, KY.

What is the estimated cost range for spinal stenosis treatment in Paducah, KY?

The cost of spinal stenosis surgery varies considerably based on what procedure is chosen. Spinal surgery in Paducah, KY is advantageous for at least two reasons. First, spinal stenosis surgery tends to be less expensive in Kentucky than it is in the Northeastern, Southeastern, or Southwestern United States. Second, most major insurers cover a substantial portion of the costs of spinal stenosis surgery. Moreover, Dr. Strenge accepts all types of health insurance at his Paducah, KY office.

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