Spinal Stenosis

Understanding Spinal Canal Stenosis

Spinal canal stenosis is a condition where the space inside your spine becomes too narrow. This narrowing can put pressure on your spinal cord or the nerves that travel through your spine, leading to pain or other symptoms.

Why Does Spinal Stenosis Happen?

One of the most common questions patients ask is:
“Why do I have this?”

The answer isn’t always simple. People are born with different shapes and sizes of spinal canals. Some have naturally narrower spaces due to the structure of their bones—especially if the pedicles (parts of the vertebrae) are short. Over time, with aging and wear-and-tear, these individuals are more likely to develop spinal stenosis. So, in many cases, it’s not caused by anything you did wrong—it’s part of your anatomy and how your body changes with age.

Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis can affect different parts of the spine, most commonly the neck (cervical) or lower back (lumbar). Common symptoms include:

• Pain in the neck, back, arms, or legs

• Numbness or tingling, especially when walking or standing

• Weakness in the limbs

• Symptoms often improve when sitting or leaning forward

Treatment Options

It’s important to know that most patients do not need surgery right away. In fact, the first step in treatment is usually non-surgical (conservative) care. This might include:

1. Medications:
Pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, or medications that target nerve pain.

2. Physical Therapy:
To strengthen muscles, improve posture, and relieve pressure on nerves.

3. Injections:
Steroid injections can help reduce inflammation and improve symptoms temporarily.

When Is Surgery Considered?

Surgery is usually considered only if symptoms persist or get worse despite conservative treatments. For some patients—especially those with difficulty walking or signs of nerve damage—spinal decompression surgery can provide relief.

The Role of Endoscopic Spine Surgery

If surgery is needed, endoscopic spine surgery is a modern, ultra-minimally invasive option with major benefits:

• Much smaller incisions

• Less tissue disruption and muscle damage

• Faster recovery and less pain after surgery

• Safer for patients with other health problems (comorbidities)

This is especially valuable for patients with spinal stenosis who may be older or have other medical conditions. We offer this advanced technique here because it allows us to treat the problem effectively with the least disruption to your body.

Personalized Care

At the end of the day, we don’t just follow guidelines—we look at you as a whole person. We’ll work together to find the best treatment plan that fits your body, your symptoms, and your lifestyle.

If you’ve been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, there are many options to help you feel better—and you don’t have to go straight to surgery.