When should a patient have surgery for spinal stenosis rather than manage symptoms through non-surgical care? This article addresses surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal cord in the neck (cervical spine) or the spinal nerve roots in the lower back (lumbar spine) are compressed. Symptoms of lumbar stenosis often include leg pain (sciatica) and leg tingling, weakness, or numbness. Arm pain is a typical symptom of cervical spinal stenosis. For cervical spinal stenosis with myelopathy, difficulty with coordination often occurs.
Stenosis treatment may include non-surgical options (exercise, anti-inflammatory medication, epidural injections, and activity modification) or back surgery.
Are you a candidate for X-STOP surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis? Find out which factors make a patient eligible or ineligible for X-STOP surgery.
As with any surgery, there are potential risks and complications in X-STOP surgery. It is important to be informed about the procedure.