Your spinal nerves travel through your spinal canal and exit through openings we call “foramen.” If any of these spaces are too narrow, your nerves become compressed. We say you have “spinal stenosis.” It’s a problem that most often happens in the neck and lower back. If your back pain limits your mobility or causes discomfort, contact the University Pain and Spine Center for expert diagnosis and treatment. Our team serves Central NJ and the Greater NYC area.
Cervical
This problem affects the spinal nerves in your neck. It’s a narrowing of the spinal canal. That’s the space your spinal nerves travel through. In a healthy spine, the spinal canal protects these nerves. It keeps them free from injury. But with spinal stenosis, the spinal canal is too narrow, and your nerves get compressed.
Thoracic
This condition affects the thoracic spine between the neck and the lower back. It is a narrowing of the spinal canal that results from degeneration of bones in the spine, disc herniation, or thickening of the tissues that surround the spinal cord.
Causes
Spinal stenosis often results from age-related wear and tear, but other factors include:
- Osteoarthritis
- Herniated discs
- Thickened ligaments
- Spinal injuries
- Bone overgrowth or tumors
When should I talk to a doctor?
Mild spinal stenosis might not cause noticeable symptoms. However, if you experience persistent back or neck pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in your extremities, it’s time to see a specialist.
How is spinal stenosis diagnosed?
Our team provides comprehensive evaluations, including a review of symptoms and imaging studies such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, to pinpoint the severity and location of spinal stenosis.
How is spinal stenosis treated?
Treatment options include:
- Physical therapy
- Pain-relieving medications
- Epidural steroid injections
- Nerve blocks
- Spinal decompression surgery
If your back pain is impacting your quality of life, call or book an appointment online with the University Pain and Spine Center today.