Spinal Stenosis Laser Surgery

If you exhibit the symptoms of spinal stenosis, the next step is to see a doctor to diagnose your ailment.  It is difficult to diagnose one with spinal stenosis with just a physical exam because the symptoms can be from other age-related or injury-related problems.  The most common way to test it is to take an MRI scan.  Other scans that can be used are X-rays and CT scans.  If you are indeed diagnosed with spinal stenosis, it is time to discuss treatment options.

Spinal Stenosis Laser Surgery?

The first course of action is usually not surgery.  Instead, a doctor will often suggest analgesics (pain killers).  Over the counter drugs with acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil) can help relieve the pain.  If they are not enough, your doctor can prescribe stronger meds if necessary, such as Percocet or Vicodin.  Another way that does not involve medications is physical therapy.  A physical therapist will have you engage in exercises that will build up the strength and stability of the spine.  If neither of these treatments work, you may try steroid injections to reduce inflammation and pressure.  However, this is not a sustainable treatment option, because numerous steroid injections will weaken the bone and ligaments of the spine.

When to Consider Surgery

In severe cases, spinal stenosis laser surgery may be the best treatment option.  If the affected area is relatively tiny, spine surgery will be a minimally invasive, endoscopic procedure and will be cleared to leave the hospital in just a few hours after the operation.  It is a very precise surgery with a high success rate.  Read more about decompressive surgeries that can allay your spinal stenosis.

There are two types of surgery that are commonly used to treat spinal stenosis – a foraminotomy and a laminotomy.  Both are types of decompressive surgeries designed to relieve pressure on pinched nerves in the spinal cord.

Foraminotomy

A foraminotomy is a procedure that involves an incision to open up the foramen to allow more room for the nerves to pass through (-otomy means to cut.)  The foramen are openings on the left and right sides along the vertebrae.  There are several disorders that can cause the nerves to become pinched.  Denegerating or thinning discs can cause the vertebrae to come closer together, decreasing the amount of space in the foramen.  Herniating or bulging discs can also infringe into the foramen as well.

Laminotomy

A laminotomy is a procedure that will cut part of the lamina to decompress pressure on the nerves.  The lamina of the vertebrae are two bony plates that extend to cover the spinal cavity on the posterior side.  This can create more room for the spinal cord and allow he nerves to pass freely.  In more serious cases, there is another type of decompressive surgery called a laminectomy, which is the removal of the lamina.

Fortunately, all of these surgeries are relatively simple with a very high success rate.  With spinal stenosis laser surgery, doctors can perform minimally invasive surgery that only requires a few hours for the patient to recover before they can be released by the hospital.  These procedures can also be done with only local anesthesia, reducing the amount of time needed to recover and be on your way.

For those with advanced spinal stenosis disorders, a foraminotomy and laminotomy are quick, easy and painless surgeries that can instantly improve your health condition.

Your spine is a very important part of the human body.  It is the column of bone that runs down your back.  It houses and protects the spinal cord that holds the nerves connecting to the brain.  Now let’s delve deeper into the inner workings of the spine.

The Human Spine

The human spine is comprised of 24 vertebrae, sacrum and coccyx.  There are three classifications for the vertebrae – cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.  Between each vertebrae, there is a disc that acts as a cushion to allow fluid movement of the spine, as well as absorb impact from normal functions such as walking.  Each vertebrae has a cavity in its center.  The two bony plates that wall in the cavity are called the lamina.  When all the vertebrae are in alignment, they create a spinal canal for the nerves to stretch between the brain and second to last vertebrae.  The nerves can exit through openings on the sides of the spine, known as foramen, to reach to all other parts of the body.  In this spinal canal, the nerves are well protected.

The cervical spine is the top 7 vertebrae that are located in the neck.  They connect to your head and are very flexible to give you a good range of motion to look around.  The thoracic spine is the middle 12 vertebrae that connect to your ribs.  Finally, the bottom 5 vertebrae make up the lumbar spine.  It is the lumbar spine structure that is most responsible for keeping your body upright.  Because of this, it is the area most susceptible to back pain.

Spinal Disorders

Spinal stenosis occurs when there is a narrowing of the spinal canal.  Disorders such as osteoarthritis and herniated or bulging discs will infringe on the canal to increase pressure.  This will reduce the room the spinal cord has and will put pressure on the nerves.  In the lumbar region, pain will usually be felt in the legs.  In the thoracic region, pain will usually be felt in the mid-section and organs.  In the cervical region, pain is usually felt in the arms.

If your spinal stenosis disorder is quite serious, a decompressive surgery is the common course of action.  Its purpose is to create room in the spinal cavities to relieve pressure on the nerves.  Minimally invasive spinal stenosis surgeries include a foraminotomy and a laminotomy.