Spine Stenosis

For many years my father has complained of lower back pain. He has gotten quite heavy over the years and we all just thought the weight gain was causing the back pain. In a way we were right. The weight gain was aggravating a condition known as lumbar spinal stenosis. Dad finally decided to go to the doctor when the pain in his buttocks and legs was so bad he could only lean forward on something like a walker to get around.

He was given an MRI and a series of x-rays from which the doctors learned that he was suffering from arthritis in his joints as well as a wearing away of the tissue that helps keep the discs from compressing onto each other. The lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing or stenosis of the spinal canal. This has occurred over time as a result of the arthritis and degenerative disc conditions. It has now gotten to the point that he has so much pain from compressed joints and nerves that he is barely able to walk.

The treatments for lumbar spinal stenosis are varied. The first course of treatment that was offered to Dad was a long course of physical therapy combined with anti inflammatory medications. The doctors also recommended that he receive epidural steroid injections as needed every few months. These injections would numb the nerves and dull the pain to allow Dad to participate fully in a vigorous course of physical therapy.

The treatments that were offered to my Dad were considered the least invasive when treating lumbar spinal stenosis. If they were unsuccessful his next option would be surgery. Lumbar spinal stenosis can be treated with surgery in two ways. Some patients have what is called a decompression procedure in which the bone and soft tissue around the vertebrae is removed. In addition some patients may also need a spinal fusion procedure in which screws and small braces are uses to fuse the vertebrae and keep them from pressing together.

Dad decided to treat his lumbar spinal stenosis with the less invasive course of treatment first and see how his body responded to that. For so many years I have watched my Dad wince in pain from the simplest movements. We are thankful that he is now going to treat his lumber spinal stenosis and possible get some relief. He has needed help for a very long time.