How is spinal stenosis treated?
Although there is no cure for spinal stenosis, various therapies are available, one of the most important being exercise. Keeping the hip and thigh muscles from developing atrophy helps increase stability and the ability to walk. Medications such as NSAIDs also may be helpful in pain relief. Cortisone injections into the epidural space (the area around the spinal cord) can give tremendous temporary or permanent relief. For severe cases, surgery may be considered. However, adequate decompression of the neural elements and maintenance of bony stability are necessary for a good surgical outcome for patients with spinal stenosis. Decompression laminectomy, which is the removal of a build-up of bony spurs or increased bone mass in the spinal canal, can free space for the nerves and the spinal cord. Spinal fusion to fuse two vertebrae together to provide stronger support for the spine almost always follows a decompression laminectomy.
