Spinal Stenosis

Aging takes a toll on your spine, causing the pain of spinal stenosis in one out of 10 adults. If your neck or back pain persists or interferes with daily life, it’s time to seek medical care from Amanda Carpenter, MD, and Duncan Carpenter, MD, at North Jersey Neurosurgical Associates. Don’t wait to call the Ridgewood, New Jersey, office or request an appointment online to get relief from your spinal stenosis symptoms.

What is spinal stenosis?

Openings in the spinal vertebrae create passageways for the nerves. When an opening narrows, you have spinal stenosis.

These openings may narrow if you have a spinal fracture. Spinal stenosis also develops when tissues protrude into them.

The age-related degenerative conditions that often cause spinal stenosis include:

• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Thickened ligaments
• Facet joint arthritis
• Slipped vertebrae (spondylolisthesis)
• Bone spurs

Bone spurs develop when the joints between vertebrae are damaged, often due to arthritis and degenerative disc disease.

What symptoms does spinal stenosis cause?

When spinal stenosis develops, the reduced space and the protrusions causing the problem frequently pinch the nerves. As a result, you may experience any of the following:

• Neck or back pain
• Pain, tingling, or numbness in your legs or arms
• Weakness in the legs or arms  
• Leg cramping when walking
• Muscle weakness in your arms or legs
• Fatigue and pain when standing or walking

Spinal stenosis may affect any part of the spine but most often develops in the lower back, where it can cause sciatica.  

How is spinal stenosis diagnosed?

Your experienced North Jersey Neurosurgical Associates provider diagnoses spinal stenosis based on your medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and diagnostic imaging. They may need X-rays, a CT scan, or MRI to see the spinal structures and identify the underlying cause.

In some cases, they may need a myelogram. A myelogram combines X-rays or a CT scan with an injected contrast dye. The dye highlights the spinal nerves, allowing your provider to see if they’re pinched.

How is spinal stenosis treated?

Nonsurgical treatment of spinal stenosis includes:

• Posture management
• Physical therapy (stretching and strengthening exercises)
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Epidural steroid injections

If your pain persists despite conservative measures, your North Jersey Neurosurgical Associates provider may discuss your surgical options.

The practice’s neurosurgeons specialize in numerous surgeries. They choose the one that best targets the cause of your spinal stenosis. They’re also experts in various procedures, including minimally invasive spine surgery, robotic-assisted surgery, and open spine surgery.

Whenever possible, North Jersey Neurosurgical Associates performs minimally invasive surgery because its techniques use a small incision, lowering your risk of bleeding and accelerating healing and recovery.

Call the North Jersey Neurosurgical Associates office today or book your spine exam online.