Have you been wondering what could be causing you to experience the following symptoms? Walking with pain, feeling numbness or ‘pins and needles’ in your hands or feet, muscle cramps, pain in your thighs and buttocks that worsens when standing, muscle weakness, even impaired bladder or bowel control. These symptoms may all be related to one specific cause: Spinal Stenosis.
What Causes Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal Stenosis, also called Spinal Narrowing, is a narrowing of the open spaces in the spine that puts pressure on the nerves and spinal cord, resulting in pain, numbness, cramping, and problems with movement. Aging is the usual culprit. Spinal Stenosis is common if you are over 50, however younger people may get Spinal Stenosis if they have been born with a narrow spinal canal. Other causes may be Osteoarthritis, spinal tumors, calcium deposits, and Paget’s disease.
Research shows that the pain from spinal stenosis can mimic pain brought about by other spinal disorders. For most patients the condition develops slowly over time. It is quite rare for the condition to be brought about by a single incident.
Is Surgery The Best and Only Answer?
Not exactly. For some patients with spinal stenosis, surgery is a last resort to relieve pressure on the effected nerves in the spine. Surgery is usually reserved for patients with neurologic weakness in the affected extremities. Your first step to relief from your chronic pain is to talk with a board certified pain physician at Tri-County Pain Consultants. Tri-County Pain Consultants offer various treatment options including Nerve block treatments or injections of anesthetic medication with anti- inflammatory medications. Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications in conjunction with pain medications may be useful as well in treating the pain.
What About Physical Therapy?
Tri-County Pain Consultants may also prescribe physical therapy exercises that will initially address flexibility and proceed to strength training exercises for the surrounding muscles in order to provide support for the affected parts of the spine. Behavioral interventions, including biofeedback and muscle relaxation training, in conjunction with counseling are used for patients with recurring pain when all other methods fail. The goal is to develop coping mechanisms to live more productively with the residual pain.
The Priority Health Spine Centers of Excellence program was created to ensure that all patients with persistent neck pain, back pain or other spine-related problems receive a comprehensive, non-surgical medical evaluation for their condition. For patients whose condition does not require urgent or emergent surgical intervention, an evaluation by a certified Priority Health Spine Center of Excellence is required prior to any referral to an orthopedic or neurosurgeon for back or neck care.
Tri-County Pain Consultants, PC is honored to be recognized by Priority Health as a Spine Center of Excellence for West Michigan. Our team of pain management specialists have a proven track record providing high quality medical care that meets and exceeds the strict criteria required by Priority Health for a Spine Center of Excellence designation.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the practice of using small needles inserted at very precise points on the body to promote natural healing and improve functioning. Acupuncture stimulates nerves, muscles and connective tissues, prompting increased blood flow to injured areas of the body, boosting the body’s natural healing process. Acupuncture provides a low risk treatment option that can be beneficial for pain syndromes due to an injury or associated with chronic degenerative diseases.
Cryoablation
Cryoablation is a procedure done in office that utilizes a specially equipped needle guided under fluoroscopy to freeze the area surrounding a nerve that is causing pain or discomfort. The goal of cryoablation is to interrupt the nerve’s ability to send pain signals to the brain and provide pain relief.
Discography
A discography is a diagnostic tool your pain management specialist may use to help determine the disc or discs that are the source of your pain. For this procedure, a contrast dye is injected into the gel like center of the suspected disc or discs, allowing your pain physician to see cracks or leaks in the disc membrane. Typically a patient receiving a discography will be given a local anesthetic or numbing agent. All discographies are performed by a certified pain management specialists under fluoroscopy.
IDET
IDET, or Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy, is a procedure used to treat discogenic back pain. IDET involves the use a heated probe inserted into the gel like disc which heats up the inside of the affected disc. Heating the inside of the disc can destroy pain causing nerve fibers and seals any cracks or holes in the disc.
Intrathecal Pump Therapy
An intrathecal pump is an implanted medical device that delivers pain medication directly to the intrathecal space surrounding the spinal cord. An intrathecal pump is indicated in cases where patients have difficulty with oral medications or where previous pain interventions have been ineffective.
Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty is a procedure designed to help relieve pain caused by compression fractures of the spine. During a kyphoplasty procedure, a small tube is inserted into the fractured area. Once the tube is in place, the physician inflates a small balloon within the fractured area to raise the area, returning the broken pieces to a more normal position. The balloon is then deflated and the space is filled with a bone cement, effectively stabilizing the fractured area.
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy, or manipulative therapy, is a direct contact physical treatment used primarily to treat musculoskeletal pain and disability, intended to restore joint or soft tissue mobility. Treatment may include joint mobilization and manipulation, muscle stretching, and resistance therapy to advance muscle timing and activation.
Medication Management
Mecication Management is medical care provided by your pain management physician to optimize the use of prescribed medication to improve therapeutic outcomes for patients.
Nerve Block Technique
A procedure in which an anesthetic agent is injected directly near a nerve to block pain. A nerve block is a form of regional anesthesia.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is a task orientated treatment program designed to help patients regain their ability to perform daily living and work activities after serious illness injury or disability. Therapy focuses on the facilitation of daily tasks of self-care, work, and play/leisure activities, to help patients regain the ability to perform daily living and work activities.
Radiofrequency Lesioning
Radiofrequency lesioning is an advanced procedure using a specialized machine to interrupt nerve conduction on a semi-permanent basis. The nerves are usually blocked for 6–9 months. The procedure is typically most effective in treating joint pain in the spine.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
A spinal cord stimulator is a small electrical device implanted just under the skin in the lower back that delivers low level electrical signals to tiny electrodes implanted in the epidural space of your spine. These electrical pulses interrupt the pain signal from reaching your brain, replacing them with a mild tingling in the area where pain is felt. The device is controlled through a magnetic remote control, which allows patients the ability to turn the device on or off, and adjust the intensity as needed.
Stress Management
Stress management is clinical therapy designed to help individuals cope with or lessen the physical and emotional effects of strain and anxiety. Stress-management may include relaxation techniques, time-management skills, counseling or group therapy, exercise, and maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle.
