Foraminal Stenosis Overview
Foraminal stenosis is a spine condition that impacts the foraminal canal within the spine. Specifically, this condition causes the foraminal canals found on either side of each vertebra to narrow, constricting the passageways that allow nerve roots to exit into the spinal canal from the spinal cord.
Once you have been diagnosed with this condition it’s important to schedule an appointment with your doctor. They will help you begin a foraminal stenosis treatment plan for pain relief. The first thing your doctor will do before recommending your specific foraminal stenosis treatment options is to find out what caused your condition to develop.
Causes of Foraminal Stenosis
The type of foraminal stenosis treatment plan you are prescribed will depend on the cause of your condition. Often, foraminal narrowing develops as a result of another spine condition pressing into the empty space within the foraminal canal. These spine conditions can include:
- Herniated disc
- Bulging disc
- Bone spur
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal arthritis
In some cases, the foraminal canal begins to narrow simply due to age and the natural degeneration of the spine. Each of these potential causes requires a different approach to treatment in order to fully address the damage to the spine.
Conservative Treatment Options
For many patients, foraminal stenosis treatment begins conservatively. This means your doctor will likely take a non-surgical approach to treat your condition through one or more of the following options:
- Pain medication
- Physical therapy
- Hot/cold compresses
- Stretches and low-impact exercises
- Weight loss
- Behavior modification
- Corticosteroids injections
If these treatments do not effectively relieve your pain after several months you may be recommended for spine surgery.
Considering Surgery
At BEST Health System we offer spine surgery as an option for foraminal stenosis treatment. We perform our procedures with a less than one-inch incision. Moreover, this procedure spares the muscles surrounding the spine. This is an alternative to the large muscle-disrupting incisions that go with open neck or back surgery. Because of our care and precision during our minimally invasive surgery, patients can expect a number of benefits. Such as shorter recovery time and lower risk of complications compared to patients who opt for traditional open spine surgery.
To learn more about the foraminal stenosis treatment options available to you, contact BEST Health System today.
