Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal and is most often caused by the arthritic process in the spine.  As the arthritic process occurs, small bone growths (known as osteophytes) begin to compress the spinal cord and cause the symptoms associated with spinal stenosis.  Spinal stenosis is most common in those over the age of 40 but can occur in younger patients as a result of years of wear and tear on the joints and discs of the spine.

Even in its early stages, spinal stenosis may compress the spinal cord and cause any or any combination of the following symptoms:

• Lower back pain
• Back pain when standing
• Burning or shooting pain in the buttocks and legs (Sciatica)
• Numbness, weakness or tingling in the buttocks and legs

The cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) regions of the spine are those that most frequently experience spinal stenosis, however the majority of cases of spinal stenosis occur in the lumbar spine.

At Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, our Fellowship Trained and Board Certified Spine Specialists are experts in diagnosing and treating spinal stenosis using the most effective treatments customized to your lifestyle and goals,

The treatments for spinal stenosis can vary based on the severity of your symptoms.  At Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, our Spine Team includes Interventional Pain Management Specialists, Orthopaedic Spine Surgeons and Neurosurgeons – all of whom are committed to creating the right plan for you.

In many cases, nonsurgical treatment options can effectively relieve pain and restore stability to the spine. These can include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
• Physical therapy
• Activity modification
• Injections

In some cases, surgery may be recommended if pain has not been relieved with conservative treatment options. Our Fellowship Trained and Board Certified Spine Specialists perform the most state-of-the-art Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery procedures to help you experience symptom relief in as short a time frame as possible.  In fact, many studies have shown that patients who undergo Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgeries recover quicker than those who undergo traditional or open spinal procedures.