If your physician has advised you to undergo an operation for spinal stenosis, you may not have given his or her opinion a second thought. Before you agree to go under the knife, do yourself a favor and be an advocate for your own health. Learn as much as you can about the condition and its various treatment methods, and don’t be afraid to receive a second – or even a third – opinion.

Understanding the Condition

It’s surprising how many patients consent to operations with little concept of what it is that the surgeon will be attempting to correct. So, what is spinal stenosis? It’s a narrowing of the spinal canal, which is the space that houses the spinal cord.

The spinal canal is formed by the large openings in the centers of the vertebrae, which are the bone structures that make up the “backbone.” Nerves branch from the spinal cord, pass through small openings on the sides of the vertebrae, and run throughout the body to relay sensory and motor messages from the brain. Intervertebral discs are located between articulating vertebrae and act as shock absorbers to lessen the impact that’s placed on the vertebrae. These spinal components (and many others that haven’t been mentioned) are all susceptible to damage, especially as a result of the natural aging process. When these components become inflamed, dislocated, or otherwise damaged, they can invade the spinal canal, causing spinal stenosis.

Many patients who suffer from spinal stenosis experience no symptoms at all. This is typically because a neural structure has not been affected despite the canal being narrowed. When neural compression does occur, though, patients can experience localized pain as well as numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and radiating pain throughout the areas of the body that are controlled by the affected nerve.

Compression in the cervical spine can cause symptoms in the head, neck, upper back, arms, and/or hands, while compression in the lumbar spine can lead to discomfort in the lower back, hips, buttocks, legs, and/or feet.

The Surgical Process

Because spinal stenosis can have many causes, there can also be many surgical approaches to treat the condition. For the sake of simplicity, let’s assume that a patient’s spinal stenosis has been caused by a herniated disc. The surgeon would decompress the affected neural structure by:

– Making a large incision in the neck or back

– Dissecting musculature and soft tissues to gain access to the spine

– Removing the affected disc

– Inserting an intervertebral cage into the space once occupied by the affected disc

– Injecting the cage with bone graft material

– Using surgical hardware to fuse the cage and adjacent vertebrae together

Following this type of operation, you can expect to stay in the hospital for at least several nights and should anticipate an arduous rehabilitation.

Explore Your Options

Some patients are candidates for minimally invasive procedures as an alternative to open neck or back operations for spinal stenosis. Ask your physician about these procedures and find out if you’re a candidate. Don’t forget to seek a second opinion before you consent to any type of surgical procedure.

John Soland is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Soland is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to patient education and advocacy.

John Soland is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications and is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including patient education and advocacy. http://www.healthgrades.com/group-directory/pennsylvania-pa/wayne/laser-spine-institute-9961d422

Author Bio: John Soland is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Soland is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to patient education and advocacy.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: patient education and advocacy