Understanding and Managing Spinal Stenosis

At Horizon Spine & Pain of Utah, we are passionate about helping patients manage spinal stenosis. This common yet potentially debilitating condition causes narrowing of the spinal canal and nerve compression. Our team offers the latest diagnostic tools and advanced, minimally invasive treatments to help you move better and live with less pain.

Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal, which puts pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. This condition can occur anywhere along the spine, but most often affects the lower back (lumbar spinal stenosis) and neck (cervical spinal stenosis).

If left untreated, spinal stenosis can lead to chronic pain, weakness, and mobility problems.

The most common causes of spinal stenosis include:

• Aging and degenerative changes in the spine
• Herniated discs bulge into the spinal canal
• Thickened ligaments are putting pressure on nerves
• Bone spurs from arthritis compress the spinal cord
• Spinal injuries or fractures
• Congenital spinal stenosis (narrow spinal canal at birth)

As the spine naturally degenerates over time, the risk of spinal stenosis increases with age.

Risk factors that can lead to or worsen spinal stenosis include:

• Age over 50
• History of spine trauma
• Genetic predisposition to spinal conditions
• Arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
• Previous spinal surgery

Lifestyle factors like poor posture, obesity, and heavy physical labor can also contribute to spinal narrowing.

Symptoms of spinal stenosis vary depending on the affected region, but often include:

• Neck or back pain
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs
• Difficulty walking or maintaining balance
• Cramping or pain in the legs when standing or walking, relieved by sitting or leaning forward (shopping cart sign)
• Bladder or bowel dysfunction (in severe cases)

Symptoms start mild and gradually worsen over time.

At Horizon Spine & Pain of Utah, we follow a comprehensive approach to diagnosis:

• Detailed medical history and symptom discussion
• Neurological examination to assess reflexes, strength, and sensation
• Imaging studies:
  • MRI: To visualize the size of the spinal canal and evaluate for spinal cord and/or nerve root compression
  • CT scans or X-rays: To detect bone spurs, fractures, or structural problems

Accurate diagnosis is crucial to developing a treatment plan tailored to your specific condition.

Many patients with mild to moderate spinal stenosis benefit from non-surgical management, including:

Medications:

• NSAIDs to reduce inflammation
• Muscle relaxants
• Nerve pain medications like gabapentin or pregabalin

Physical therapy:

• Exercises to strengthen core muscles and improve flexibility
• Posture training to reduce pressure on the spine

Activity modifications:

• Learning safer ways to walk, sit, and move to relieve symptoms

We offer a variety of targeted advanced injection therapies to manage spinal stenosis pain:

• Epidural steroid injections: Reduce inflammation around compressed nerves
• Facet joint injections and radiofrequency ablations: Alleviate pain from arthritic spinal joints
• Selective nerve root blocks: Deliver medication directly to the affected nerve root

Injections provide temporary but powerful relief, allowing patients to better participate in physical therapy and other activities.

When conservative treatments fail to provide sufficient relief, surgery may be recommended. Common surgical options include:

• Laminectomy: Removal of part of the vertebra (lamina) to enlarge the spinal canal
• Foraminotomy: Enlarging the space where nerve roots exit the spine
• Spinal fusion: Stabilizing the spine if instability is present

We recommend surgery only after you've carefully explored and exhausted non-surgical treatments—and when the time comes, we'll help you connect with a qualified spine surgeon.

Patients trust Horizon Spine & Pain of Utah because we provide:

• Board-certified experts in spine and pain management
• Individualized, comprehensive care plans
• Non-surgical and minimally invasive treatments first
• Access to state-of-the-art technology and diagnostics
• Compassionate care and clear patient education

We are committed to helping you regain your mobility, strength, and quality of life, using the safest and most effective treatments available.