Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal — the opening in the center of your spinal column through which the spinal cord travels. When the canal narrows, it pushes on the nerves that travel from the spinal cord to the arms and legs. This pressure on the nerves increases gradually, only causing a few signs or symptoms in the beginning stages of the condition.
The neurosurgeons at French Hospital Medical Center and Marian Regional Medical Center make use of the newest technologies and leading-edge procedures to relieve symptoms associated with spinal stenosis.
If you have degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis, you are at a high risk for spinal stenosis. As you age, the discs that act as a cushion between each spinal vertebra begin to wear down (degenerate). This causes friction that slowly contributes to the degeneration of the spinal joints, which leads to spinal arthritis. As time passes, bone spurs may also begin to develop in and around the spinal column and may put pressure on the spinal nerves, eventually leading to spinal stenosis.
The following conditions can increase your risk of developing spinal stenosis:
You can decrease your risk of developing or worsening spinal stenosis symptoms when you:
Because spinal stenosis develops slowly over time, you may not experience symptoms at first. However, as your spinal nerves become more compressed, you may observe an increase in signs and symptoms.
Spinal stenosis can occur at any position along the spine. Also, symptoms vary depending on the location.
Common symptoms include:
Many spine problems have similar symptoms. X-rays or other imaging tests such as MRIs and CT scans are often essential for an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment may include:
Every patient is unique, so we work closely with you to create a customized treatment plan that fits your individual needs and goals. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care and treatment options to help alleviate your pain and improve your quality of life.
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Blue Shield of California has selected French Hospital Medical Center as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers® are nationally designated health care facilities that show a commitment to delivering high-quality patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.
Marian Regional Medical Center has been named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals for a third consecutive year (2021-2023), according to research released by Healthgrades, the leading marketplace connecting doctors and patients. This achievement puts Marian in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical performance across the most common conditions and procedures.
To learn more, visit Healthgrades
