In-depth information on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options for spinal stenosis including lumbar spinal stenosis and cervical foraminal stenosis.
Spinal Stenosis Surgery:
The X-STOP
October 24, 2007
The X-STOP, which stands for "Interspinous Process Decompression System",
is a titanium implant that is inserted into the back at the lumbar spine segment
that has symptomatic spinal stenosis (narrowing of the boney canal which can
cause crowding of the nerve roots). Read
more...
By: Jack Zigler, MD
Definitive Guide
To Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Updated
October 29, 2007
As we age, the facet joints in the spine may enlarge and place pressure on the
nerve roots as they exit the spine, which is known as spinal stenosis. This condition
can cause pain during certain activities and positions. Read
more...
By: Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
Living
with spinal stenosis
July 25, 2007
Many people with lumbar spinal stenosis find that they can successfully
manage their condition through an easy self care program including specific
exercises, posture changes, pain management and nutrition. Read more...
By: Grant Cooper, MD
Leg pain and numbness: What might these symptoms mean?
April 18, 2007
Quite often leg pain or foot pain does not mean that there is a problem with the leg, but rather that there is a problem in the low back, causing pain and possibly other symptoms to radiate, or be referred to, the leg or the foot. Read more...
By: Grant Cooper, MD
Lumbar
spinal stenosis diagnosis and treatment
Updated April 3, 2007 (original publication October 25, 2002)
Spinal stenosis is a condition that compresses nerves
and can produce leg pain and other symptoms during walking and other activities. Spinal stenosis symptoms can usually be controlled with non-surgical treatments and activity modification, and for severe pain and inability to function, surgery is an option. Read
more...
By: Charles Dean Ray, MD
TOPS™ Total
Posterior Arthroplasty Clinical Study for Lumbar
Spinal Stenosis*
January 5, 2007
A clinical study of the TOPS™ Total Posterior Arthroplasty System for the
treatment of leg pain associated with moderate to severe spinal stenosis of the
lumbar spine. Read more...
Exercise for sciatica from spinal stenosis
January 3, 2007
Alleviating the pain caused by sciatica from spinal stenosis is accomplished by stretching the muscles of the back that hold the spine in extension and strengthening the muscles that bring the spine into flexion. Read more...
By: Ron S. Miller, PT
TFAS™ Total
Facet Arthroplasty System™ Clinical Trial*
February 1, 2006
The TFAS™ clinical trial is a multi-center, prospective, randomized controlled
clinical trial comparing the safety and effectiveness of the TFAS™ to spinal
fusion surgery in the treatment of moderate to severe degenerative lumbar spinal
stenosis. Read more...
Sciatica
symptoms and causes
March 30, 2000 (updated September
22, 2006)
Common conditions that can cause sciatica, or pain along the sciatic nerve include
lumbar herniated disc, lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, piriformis
syndrome, isthmic spondylolisthesis, and sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Read
more...
By: Stephen H. Hochschuler, MD
Pain
from a synovial cyst in the lumbar spine
September 9, 2002
A synovial cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops as a result of degeneration
in the spine. The cyst can create pressure inside the spinal canal and this
in turn can give a patient symptoms of spinal stenosis, including lower back
pain that can radiate to the legs. Read
more...
By Stephen H. Hochschuler, MD
Cervical
foraminal stenosis
March 29, 2000 (Updated February 28, 2001)
Cervical foraminal stenosis is caused by enlargement of a joint that places
pressure on the spinal canal. Cervical forminal spinal stenosis can cause pain
during certain activities and positions. Read
more...
By: Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
Cervical
stenosis with myelopathy
March 29, 2000 (Updated February 28, 2001)
Degenerative changes in the joints occur with age and can create tightening
of the spinal canal from spinal stenosis. This process may lead to tightening
of the spinal cord and compromised coordination of the extremities. Read
more...
By: Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
Bone
spurs (osteophytes) and back pain
October 10, 2000
While bone spurs are an indication that there is degeneration of the spine,
these bony growths are not usually the actual cause of the pain. In some cases,
a bone spur (osteophyte) can press on the nerve root and cause lateral spinal
stenosis. Read
more...
By: John H. Schneider, MD
Osteoarthritis and facet joint problems – The doctor is in!
April 19, 2005
In this section, Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon and
Medical Director for Spine-health.com provides answers to patients’ common
questions about diagnosing and treating osteoarthritis and facet joint problems. Read
more…
Back symptoms that indicate a medical emergency - Spine-health.com Newsletter
Although most conditions that cause back pain do not require immediate medical care, there are times when back pain-related symptoms are a sign of a serious medical problem, such as cauda equina syndrome, which can result from spinal stenosis. This newsletter discusses a number of symptoms that may indicate a medical emergency. Read more…
* (sponsored clinical trial)
Please note that these additional patient resources (such as The Back-to-Back Forum and Newsletters) on Spine-health.com are not peer-reviewed by the Spine-health.com Medical Advisory Board. They are provided as additional resources for patients to learn from the experiences of others and to gain information from our popular newsletters.
