Is Spinal Stenosis Reversible?

Spinal stenosis is a frequent cause of back pain symptoms, often in the lumbar (lower back) or cervical (neck) areas. When you’re suffering from back pain due to stenosis, you may wonder about treating the problem. 

Spinal stenosis isn’t a singular condition. Medically, the word “stenosis” refers to a narrowing in the body. Any structure in the body that suffers from a restriction in size might be a form of stenosis. 

Spinal stenosis happens when nerve tissue becomes constrained and compressed by such narrowing.

At Metro Anesthesia & Pain Management in West Des Moines and East Des Moines, Iowa, our team typically focuses on controlling the symptoms of spinal stenosis before moving on to more complete therapy to relieve the nerve compression at the heart of your condition. 

Let’s take a deeper look at the problems that cause stenosis. 

The anatomy of the spine

The spinal column is a complex and versatile structure, housing and protecting the spinal cord, the portion of your central nervous system from which nerves branch out to the rest of your body, with 31 pairs of nerves in total. 

The spine is also mobile, with four facet joints between each pair of vertebrae providing the extensive range of motion your back enjoys. Intervertebral discs provide shock absorption and spacing to aid motion. 

With all that’s going on in the spine, nerve routing is also complex. Those 62 nerve roots must travel from the spinal cord through all the structures of the spine and out to the body. There are plenty of locations for stenosis to develop. 

Causes of spinal stenosis

Degenerative changes to the spine affect about 95% of the American population by the time they reach age 50. Not everyone suffers from symptoms of these changes. It’s simply a natural part of the aging process. 

When you do suffer from symptomatic spinal stenosis, there are several potential causes. The most common of these include: 

• Herniated discs: spinal discs can rupture, allowing the gel-like center to press on nerves
• Congenital conditions: some people are born with narrow nerve passageways
• Bone spurs: a common side effect of arthritis, they can irritate nerve tissue
• Spinal injuries: vertebral fractures or dislocations can cause stenosis
• Ligaments: they can thicken and stiffen over time and press into the spinal canal
• Tumors: though rare, spinal tumors can grow to affect nerve roots

People with spinal conditions, such as scoliosis, may also develop symptoms related to stenosis. 

Is spinal stenosis reversible?

Reversing spinal stenosis means returning all parts of the spine to the condition they enjoyed when you were younger. Wear-and-tear over time is a huge contributor to the condition. 

Medical science generally regards spinal stenosis as incurable. However, there are treatments that can alter conditions enough to alleviate the symptoms caused by stenosis. 

While much depends on the specifics of your condition, we offer a wide range of therapies that may help you live without pain. These include: 

• Anti-inflammatory injections and medications
• Nerve block injections
• Physical therapy
• Pain-relieving injections
• Stem cell therapy
• Radiofrequency nerve ablation
• Spinal cord stimulators

Call or click today to book a consultation with our spinal cord stenosis specialists at Metro Anesthesia & Pain Management.