Spinal Stenosis Specialists

Evergreen Spine and Neurosurgery Center Our Services Spinal Stenosis

Evergreen Spine and Neurosurgery Center

Neurosurgery located in Shenandoah, TX & Conroe, TX

If you suffer from chronic low back pain that feels better when you sit down, there’s a good chance you have a condition called spinal stenosis. Board-certified neurosurgeons Cyril Sebastian, MD and Derek Kroll, DO, at Evergreen Spine and Neurosurgery Center in Shenandoah, Texas & Conroe, Texas, can help you find relief from your symptoms with minimally invasive surgery that treats the cause of the problem. Schedule an appointment online or call the office today to learn more about effective surgery options for spinal stenosis.

Spinal Stenosis Q & A

WHAT CONDITIONS CAUSE SPINAL STENOSIS?

Spinal stenosis occurs when the space in your spinal canal narrows. The spinal canal is created by the vertebrae. When the canal narrows, the problem is caused by degenerative conditions that gradually develop as you get older, such as:

  • Herniated discs
  • Facet joint arthritis
  • Bone spurs
  • Thickened ligaments
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Degenerative scoliosis
  • Degenerative spondylolisthesis

As these conditions protrude into the canal or cause misaligned vertebrae, they lead to nerve compression and inflammation.

WHAT SYMPTOMS DEVELOP DUE TO SPINAL STENOSIS?

Though spinal stenosis can affect any part of your spine, it often develops in your lower back or lumbar spine, where it causes symptoms that include:

  • Lower back pain
  • Pain, weakness, or numbness in your legs or buttocks
  • Cramping in your calves when walking
  • Pain radiating down your legs

If you have spinal stenosis in your neck or cervical spine, you’ll have similar symptoms that affect your arms and shoulders instead of your legs and buttocks.

HOW IS SPINAL STENOSIS TREATED?

Nonsurgical treatment for spinal stenosis typically includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and epidural steroid injections. However, if you still struggle with the pain after about 4-6 weeks of conservative therapy, it’s time to consider your surgical options.

Dr. Sebastian has extensive experience performing minimally invasive procedures that effectively relieve your pain by taking care of the source of your spinal stenosis. For example, he may recommend:

DISCECTOMY OR MICRODISCECTOMY

If your stenosis is due to a herniated disc or degenerative disc disease, Dr. Sebastian performs a discectomy to remove the entire disc or a microdiscectomy to remove the damaged portion of the disc.

DECOMPRESSION PROCEDURES

Dr. Sebastian may recommend one of several decompression procedures, such as a laminectomy, foraminotomy, or laminotomy. Each procedure removes varying parts of the spinal bones, ligaments, and tissues, creating more space in the spinal canal for the nerves.

SPINAL FUSION

Any time Dr. Sebastian removes a disc or a significant portion of the vertebra, you may need a spinal fusion to restore strength and stability. A spinal fusion uses a bone graft to make two adjoining vertebrae grow together, fuse, and form one solid bone.

ARTIFICIAL DISC REPLACEMENT

After removing a disc, Dr. Sebastian may insert an artificial disc replacement instead of fusing the two bones. The new disc provides stability and maintains your spine’s natural mobility.

If you suffer from ongoing pain due to spinal stenosis, call Evergreen Spine and Neurosurgery Center or schedule an appointment online.

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