.png)
Spinal stenosis Treatment
in Phoenix
Cervical, Thoracic, & Lumbar
Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal. When this narrowing puts pressure on the nerves traveling through the canal, symptoms can occur. Some people with spinal stenosis do not have any symptoms at all. For many people, symptoms come on gradually and worsen over time.
Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
The most common form of stenosis is lumbar spinal stenosis. When nerves in the lower part of the spine are affected by spinal stenosis it can cause:
-
Back Pain
-
Pain or cramps in one or both legs, which is exacerbated by walking or standing for long periods and which is relieved when sitting or leaning forward
-
Weakness in the foot or leg
-
Numbness or tingling in the foot or leg
Cervical spinal stenosis occurs when the nerves in the neck are affected. Symptoms include:
-
Weakness in the foot, leg, hand or arm
-
Numbness or tingling in the hand or arm
-
Problems with balance or walking
-
In severe cases, problems with bowel or bladder function
Thoracic spinal stenosis is less common. Symptoms of narrowing of the spinal canal in the upper back include:
-
Heaviness or weakness in one or both legs
-
Problems with balance or walking
-
Numbness or pain in one or both legs
-
A feeling of constriction in the chest or abdomen
-
In severe cases, problems with bladder, bowel or sexual function
It is possible to have spinal stenosis in multiple areas of the spine.
What causes spinal stenosis?
Narrowing of the spinal canal can occur from congenital deformities, tumors, degeneration of the spine or as the result of trauma such as a car accident.
Most cases of spinal stenosis occur as a result of age-related changes such as osteoarthritis. Wear and tear on the spine can create overgrowths of bone called bone spurs (osteophytes) or lead to herniated discs, where the soft nucleus of a disc breaks through a crack in the outer layer. Bone spurs or herniated discs can push into the spinal canal and affect the nerves inside or the spinal cord itself.
Treatment for spinal stenosis
Treatment for spinal stenosis usually begins with nonsurgical measures such as medications, physical therapy and other measures of conservative care. If symptoms persist, epidural injections can be used to reduce pain and inflammation of spinal nerves.
Surgery is a last resort for the treatment of spinal stenosis, and is only used when more conservative measures don’t work or when symptoms are severe; for example when they cause bladder and bowel dysfunction. Dr. Baig will use one of a variety of surgical techniques to decompress (take pressure off) the affected spinal nerves. If there is a concern about spinal stability, decompression surgery may be combined with spinal fusion surgery for the best outcome.
Diagnosing Spinal Stenosis
Before you can receive spinal stenosis treatment in our Phoenix-area practice, you’ll need to be diagnosed. From a physical examination to a discussion of your medical history and your existing symptoms, our doctor for spinal stenosis surgery will evaluate all your options before recommending a course of action.
First up are various imaging tests that can help our doctors determine what’s causing your symptoms and how best to organize a treatment plan. A simple X-ray can help reveal bone spurs that may be narrowing around the spinal canal, while an MRI can produce more helpful, cross-sectional images of your spine.
Not only can an MRI determine the damage that has occurred to your disks and ligaments, as well as any tumors that may be present, but it can also show exactly where pressure is building up in the spinal cord.
For those that are unable to have an MRI, your doctor may recommend a CT scan, which is essentially an advanced X-ray that combines different angles into a 3d image that is detailed enough to draw better insights and inform the course of action. Sometimes a CT scan requires a dye to be injected, which helps reveal bone spurs, tumors and herniated disks.
After a Diagnosis
Depending on your exact symptoms and what is discovered in the diagnosis phase, your doctor may recommend spinal stenosis treatment in Phoenix to help alleviate your symptoms. More serious symptoms and discoveries may warrant surgery, but if you’re experiencing mild or no symptoms, your doctor may recommend monitoring and follow up appointments. In fact, there may be some things that you can do at home to help, or you may need to engage in physical therapy of some type.
For many, however, medication can be the first line of defense. Simple pain relievers and antidepressants can help reduce discomfort and pain, while more powerful anti-seizure drugs and opioids can reduce more severe pain. Steroid injections are also a viable spinal stenosis treatment for Phoenix-based patients that have severe pain at the site of pinching, though these kinds of injections can only be safely done a few times a year due to damage to nearby bones and connective tissue.
Get maximum relief with minimal risk
MINIMALLY INVASIVE
SPINE PROCEDURES
ENDOSCOPIC
SPINE SURGERY
STEREOTACTIC
SPINE PROCEDURES
NON-SURGICAL
TREATMENT OPTIONS
WE DIAGNOSE THE ROOT
Chronic back pain can be debilitating and leave you feeling hopeless. When Craig wasn’t getting the care he felt he deserved, he reached out to Dr. Baig to get the help he needed.
Unfortunately, this is a common problem: People suffering from back pain see a doctor, get diagnosed with some type of “chronic” condition, obtain a prescription and perhaps go to a few physical therapy appointments. They feel a bit better for a time, but the root of the problem is never diagnosed or properly treated. This is how back pain can become chronic, and this is why people ultimately seek the help of Desert Spine and Scoliosis center, expert back surgeons in Phoenix.
Dr. Baig, one of the most respected back surgeons in Phoenix, helped Craig identify his problem by relying on his years of expertise as a spine specialist in Phoenix. With the proper treatment, Craig’s condition improved and he was able to get back into life without the terrible pain that had dragged him down for so long. This is what patients should reasonably expect from our team of Phoenix spine surgeons.
SUCCESS STORIES
For an active 39 year old who participates in Jiujitsu, having a spinal fusion would not have been the right thing for her. We were able to get her back on the mat after a successful disc replacement and she is back living her life
NO MORE BACK PAIN!
For an active young mom, having a spinal fusion was out of the question.
She was back in the gym THE SAME DAY after she had an Endoscopic Decompression. Dr. Baig and is living life
PAIN FREE!
This personal trainer got a cervical disc replacement.
She was able to avoid a fusion, keep her her range of motion, and get back
into the gym
PAIN FREE!
WHAT OUR PATIENTS SAY
We wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to our patients who take the time to leave a review about their experience at our practice.
Your kind words and feedback are greatly appreciated by our entire team, and your review helps other patients make an informed decision about where to turn to for care.
Thanks again for sharing your experience with others. You are making a difference.
T.M. ~ Actual Patient
"Dr Baig and his team are phenomenal. I had a compressed nerve due to a bulging disc and was able to be seen relatively quickly. Surgery was quick and flawless and I have no complaints at all. I truly appreciated how fast they worked to get me seen and out of all the pain I was in! Highly recommend them."
A.H. ~ Actual Patient
"Dr Baig literally changed my life for the better. I had a severely pinched nerve in my neck and needed to get surgery. Immediately at my first consult I felt comfortable and in good hands. I even walked away with a smile on my face during that scary time.
Surgery day couldn’t have gone better. The team he had also had a great bedside manner and helped keep me calm.
After the surgery and in the recovery room, he came in and checked on me and made sure I was all good before releasing me."
S.D. ~ Actual Patient
"Dr Baig was going to be my second opinion for an upcoming scheduled spinal surgery. After my appointment, he will be my surgeon. He gave me a lot of information that was lacking from my other doctors. I felt very comfortable with Dr Baig and his entire office staff. Looking forward to living pain free after we strengthen my bones. It’s going to be a permanent fix and not a bandaid."
Consult Our Back Surgeons in Phoenix
Back pain can often be a result of an accident, injury, or congenital conditions such as scoliosis. Certain forms of back pain can be a result of the natural aging process, including conditions such as disc protrusion and spinal stenosis.
Today, advancements in imaging, and non surgical techniques have led to more treatment options than ever before, allowing us to return our patients the life they once knew…usually without the need for invasive spine surgery.
Typically, back surgeons in Phoenix offer one type of help, even though there are many others available. When you work with Dr. Baig at the Desert Spine and Scoliosis Center, you can rest assured that everything is on the table when it comes to potential treatments that are accepted by the medical world.
CONTACT US
LOCATIONS
Conservative care you can trust, with multiple locations in the valley!
Just how ‘minimal’ is minimally invasive spine surgery?
Book your appointment today and we'll be happy to educate you!
As a top-rated spine specialist, Dr. Baig understands that this complicated part of the body can lead to many different problems, and each possibility will be considered before deciding on a treatment protocol.
Get answers, get help, get back to a better quality of life––schedule an appointment today.
_PNG.png)