Back Pain Conditions

Find out if you're a candidate for a minimally invasive alternative to open neck or back surgery

Warning: You must enable JavaScript!!

First Name

Last Name

State

Zip

Phone

Best Time

Have you been in pain for 6 months or more? Yes No
Select yes or no

Have you seen an orthopedic or neurosurgeon who has recommended that you have surgery to correct your condition? Yes No
Select yes or no

Have you had an MRI or CTScan in the last 2 years? Yes No
Select yes or no

Privacy

Spinal Stenosis Surgery

Before considering spinal stenosis surgery, you probably exhausted yourself trying other treatments like cortisone injections, painkillers, muscle relaxers, and the like. You probably have tried stretching, exercising, resting, and eating a healthier diet, but nothing has made enough of a difference to maintain your quality of life. If that’s the case, then spinal stenosis surgery may be the only option that can relieve your back and neck pain.

This surgery aims to correct spinal stenosis by physically removing the substance that is constricting or narrowing the spinal canal. This may be tissue such as from a ligament, bone as from a bone spur, cartilage as from a bulging or herniated disc, or a combination of these and more.

Spinal Stenosis Treatment

While most stenosis sufferers will agree that finding fast relief is of the utmost importance, spinal stenosis treatment cannot begin until an accurate diagnosis has been obtained. Additionally, it's important not to begin any treatment regimen until you have been cleared by your doctor and the proper techniques have been recommended. Once your doctor determines the cause or causes of your spinal stenonsis – a narrowing of the spine – he or she can give you the most effective treatment plan. For example, they may discover that your spinal stenosis is due to a bulging disc, a bone spur, spinal arthritis, swollen ligaments, or a combination of multiple issues.

Initially, your spinal stenosis treatment regimen may begin with conservative options like:

Spinal Stenosis Diagnosis

The process of obtaining a spinal stenosis diagnosis usually can be divided into three main parts:

A review of your medical history – Your doctor will go over your medical history to look for connections between the symptoms you are currently experiencing and those of previous conditions. In addition, if you have a history of spinal stenosis or other back conditions, it could affect the diagnosis and treatment plan.
A physical examination – The doctor will perform a physical examination which will likely include questions as to what types of symptoms you feel, where they're felt, and what movements cause them to become more or less severe.
Diagnostic testing – Once the physical exam is complete, diagnostic testing is likely to be ordered. This may include a CT scan and/or MRI so the doctor can confirm any initial findings or explore a possible issue further.

What does Spinal Stenosis Diagnosis Mean for You?

A spinal stenosis diagnosis may reveal that you have one or more of the following conditions:

Spinal Stenosis Symptoms

Spinal stenosis symptoms vary in their location depending on the area of the spine as well as the nerve root or part of the spinal cord that is constricted. For example, cervical spinal stenosis causes symptoms in the upper back, neck, and arms, while lumbar spinal stenosis results in symptoms in the lower back and legs, as well as the buttocks and feet. However, the sensations themselves are often very similar and include:

Spinal Stenosis – What Is It?

Spinal stenosis is a term used to describe a narrowing of the spinal canal or foramen. It can occur in any area of the spine including the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions, and specific types of spinal stenosis are named according to location. For example, cervical spinal stenosis would be narrowing or constricting that occurs in the C1–C5 vertebrae, or the upper back and neck, while lumbar spinal stenosis would be narrowing in the L1–L5 vertebrae of the spine, or the lower back.

Spinal Stenosis – What Causes It?

Spinal stenosis can be caused by many things, but three of the most common include:

Spinal Stenosis Causes

Spinal stenosis is defined as a narrowing or constricting of the spinal canal. However, spinal stenosis causes are widely varied and can include:

Bulging disc
Herniated or ruptured disc
Swollen ligaments
Bone spurs

Further complicating the diagnosis of spinal stenosis causes is the fact that these conditions themselves can be the result of other issues such as degenerative disc disease and arthritis.

Treatments for Spinal Stenosis Causes

Due to the wide number of spinal stenosis causes, only a doctor can correctly determine the source of your discomfort and the most effective treatment plan. However, there are some recommended treatments that work well for many stenosis causes, including:

Facet Disease—What to do When Conservative Treatment is Not Enough

Treatment for facet disease, like many spinal conditions, generally begins with conservative methods such as physical therapy, rest, exercise and pain medication. The goal is to manage the symptoms, which can include localized pain, loss of flexibility, inflammation, muscle spasms or muscle stiffness. However, in some cases the degeneration of cartilage between the facet joints—the joints where the vertebrae meet—is so severe conservative treatment simply is not enough to manage the debilitating pain and loss of function.

Treating the Causes of Sciatica at Laser Spine Institute

Sciatica at its worst can feel like the back of your leg is on fire—on the inside. When the pain flares up, sometimes all you can do is wait it out and hope it doesn’t hurt too long. When you’re in that kind of pain, knowing that the cause of your sciatica is compression of the sciatic nerve doesn’t help much. Still, a proper diagnosis is the first step toward finding a way to manage the shooting lower back and leg pain, tingling, numbness and muscle weakness associated with sciatica.

Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis of the Spine

Osteoarthritis of the spine is one of the most common causes of neck and back pain, particularly in people older than 50. When cartilage begins to break down along the joints that connect the vertebrae, it can lead to persistent pain, bone rubbing against bone, tingling, numbness or muscle weakness. For many of the 21 million Americans with osteoarthritis, the condition is not preventable. Yet, knowing the risk factors can help you determine whether you are likely to develop the condition.

Herniated Disc—When to Seek Help from Laser Spine Institute

A herniated disc doesn’t always require treatment. In fact, the condition can remain undetected for years, as long as the spinal cord and nearby nerves aren’t affected. However, when nerve compression occurs, the symptoms, which include painful tingling, numbness and muscle weakness, can be debilitating. If they begin to interfere with your day-to-day life, you’ll need to visit your doctor to determine your options for treatment.

How a Bulging Disc is Different from a Herniated Disc

The terms bulging disc and herniated disc are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not quite the same thing. Further complicating the matter are two other intervertebral disc-related terms—prolapsed disc and slipped disc. Slipped disc, like the non-medical term whiplash, is a colloquialism that has gained acceptance through wide-spread usage. However, it does not describe any particular condition. Prolapsed disc is a broader term that can refer to either a herniated or a bulging disc. “Prolapse” is the medical term for a body part or organ that has “fallen” or become displaced. A prolapse occurs with a bulging and a herniated disc, but not exactly in the same way.

Foraminal Stenosis Symptoms—How to Deal With Them

If you’ve been diagnosed with foraminal stenosis, you probably already have learned more than you ever thought you’d know about human spinal anatomy. If not for your diagnosis, you might never have known that the vertebral foramen is an opening along the spine through which the spinal cord passes, or that the intervertebral foramina are openings on either side of a vertebra that allow nerve roots to branch off the spinal cord to other parts of the body. Foraminal stenosis, is a narrowing or constriction of the vertebral or intervertebral foramina, usually caused by an age-related or congenital condition such as degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis.

Spinal Stenosis Treatment at Laser Spine Institute

You’ve tried everything to relieve the symptoms associated with spinal stenosis. Prescription medication. Physical therapy. Behavior modification. Steroid injections. Perhaps you even visited a chiropractor or gave acupuncture a try. None of it worked. Your chronic neck or back pain still prevents you from functioning the way you used to before you had ever heard of spinal stenosis—a narrowing of the spinal canal. Your doctor finally has presented surgery as an option. Naturally, you’ll want to do whatever it takes to regain your life, but the idea of traditional open back surgery may be intimidating.

Pinched Nerve—How to Manage the Symptoms

The first thing to know about a pinched nerve is that more often than not, the symptoms will fade over time. So, that tingling, numbness or muscle weakness you’ve experienced? It will likely diminish and you will regain your range of motion in a few weeks.

Dealing with Degenerative Disc Disease at Laser Spine Institute

The doctor’s diagnosis—degenerative disc disease—sounds awful. But the name can be misleading. This condition is not, in fact, a disease. And even though it does refer to progressive degeneration of an intervertebral disc, the symptoms usually become progressively more tolerable over time, not worse. But, if it’s not a disease, then, what is it? Simply put, it is a natural part of aging. The intervertebral discs, which function as “shock absorbers” between the vertebrae, begin to break down over time. As the disc loses its integrity, there is less space and cushion between the vertebrae. This sometimes leads to nerves being pinched, which can cause localized or radiating pain, tingling, numbness or muscle weakness in other parts of the body.

Bone Spurs Treatment at Laser Spine Institute

Bone spurs generally are not a major problem, even though the term itself sounds kind of intimidating. These growths, also called osteophytes, are actually smooth protrusions of bone mass, usually generated over a long period of time. Most people older than 60 develop bone spurs in the feet, hips, shoulders, legs or the spine, and more often than not, these protrusions remain undetected.

Injections for Back Pain Can Be Used for Diagnosis and Relief

If your doctor has ordered injections for your back pain, they’ll serve one of two purposes. The first is diagnosis. To determine exactly what is causing your pain, a doctor may inject a short term anesthetic into an area of your back that hurts to help determine where exactly the pain is being generated. For instance, if your doctor injects one of your facet joints with a pain blocker and your symptoms disappear, then he or she knows that the pain stems from that part of the spine, not something else like a bulging disc. Another type of injection used to diagnose back pain causes is contrast dyes. These are used during MRIs to create a clearer picture for your doctor, helping him or her see the problem in more detail and in turn diagnose the problem more easily.

Thoracic Back Pain Symptoms May Be Treatable at Laser Spine Institute

Thoracic back pain is often the result of muscle strain which can heal over time with conservative treatments and rest. However, in some cases it can be caused by problems with the way the ribs attach to the spine, or spinal canal conditions such as degenerative disc disease, stenosis, arthritis or another ailment. These types of conditions can require more aggressive treatment including chiropractic care and spinal steroid injections. In some cases, relief from thoracic back pain that is caused by these conditions can require surgery. For patients in this situation, Laser Spine Institute (LSI) offers a safe and effective alternative to traditional back surgery.

Lumbar Back Pain Symptoms Often Can be Treated at Laser Spine Institute

Lumbar back pain is one of the most common health complaints from American adults. That’s not a surprising fact when you consider how much work the lower back, also known as the lumbar region, does in a day. It’s involved in all of the walking, lifting, bending and twisting you do, and even when you are sitting still, it’s responsible for supporting the entire weight of your upper body. Combine those factors with potential overuse or misuse of the lower back, and you have a recipe for lumbar pain. Common causes of an aching lower back include sciatica, bulging or herniated discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and more. Fortunately, most of these lumbar back pain causes can be treated with simple remedies like stretching, special exercises, over-the-counter medicines, and cold and hot therapy.

Acute Back Pain Treatment at Laser Spine Institute

If you are suffering with acute back pain, you likely want treatment that is not only safe and effective, but also fast-acting. That’s where Laser Spine Institute (LSI) comes in. We offer treatment that often has patients back to their normal activities more quickly than traditional open-back surgery. Additionally, more than 85% of our patients report and increased quality of life within three months of their procedure, and some of our patients even report relief the same day. Our procedures are also gentle on the body, meaning there’s less risk for complications like infection and excess scar tissue formation. This reduces the chance of a long painful recovery, as well as future acute back pain. LSI is able to accomplish these advantages by using endoscopic techniques.

Back Pain Acupuncture May Provide Relief to Some Patients

Back pain acupuncture has been increasing in popularity over the last few years as alternative healing modalities have become more accepted. An ancient Chinese practice, there is little in the way of traditional western logic to show how or why acupuncture works to relieve back pain, but studies have suggested that it does work. Generally speaking, acupuncturists say that it relieves pain by redirecting “Qi,” or life energy, along invisible meridians in the body to remove energy blocks and improve overall flow. This process is directed by the insertion of tiny needles into the skin along the body’s meridians.

Back Pain Surgery at Laser Spine Institute is Safe and Effective for Many Patients

Back pain surgery is generally a last resort for back pain sufferers. Before surgery is even discussed, there is a host of non-invasive treatments that can relieve pain for the majority of patients. Those treatments include physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, stretching, special exercises, traction, over-the-counter medications, chiropractic care and more. For the group of patients who don’t find relief through those methods, spinal steroid injections may be considered. But while injections are good option for taking the edge off pain until a condition heals, they may not be the answer for someone with a serious injury or a chronic condition like spinal arthritis. It’s often those patients who consider back pain surgery. If you find yourself in this group of people, you may want to consider treatment at Laser Spine Institute (LSI). Our procedures are gentler on the body than tradition surgeries.

Back Pain Physical Therapy and Other Treatments

If you experience back pain, physical therapy may be one of the treatments suggested by your doctor. Physical therapy is highly valued for its ability to relieve pain in a non-invasive manner, and it may even help prevent future back pain by strengthening the back and teaching the patient the correct way to do tasks like lifting and reaching. Depending on what type of back condition is causing your pain and how severe it is, your physical therapy sessions may vary.

Mid Back Pain Sufferers May Find Relief at Laser Spine Institute

Mid back pain is not as common as lower back pain and neck pain, but pain in the middle back can be just as debilitating when it comes on. Fortunately, middle back pain is most often caused by muscle strain, which generally heals nicely on its own without too much intervention if the needed rest is allowed. However, it is possible that the mid-back pain you are experiencing is the result of something more serious, like a ruptured disc or degenerative disc disease. Those conditions are more common in the neck and lower back where more bending and twisting occurs, but the middle back can experience these issues occasionally, too.

Back Pain Exercises Can Help Reduce Symptoms and Prevent Future Injuries

Back pain exercises can get you on track for a full recovery and they can even help you avoid future back injuries by building up the muscles around your spine and increasing flexibility. However, choosing the wrong exercises—or performing the right ones incorrectly—can result in serious damage to your back. That’s why you should always consult a doctor or physical therapist before undertaking an exercise regimen to relieve back pain. Your doctor can examine you, issue a proper diagnosis and help you choose some exercises to improve your condition.

Chronic Back Pain Relief at Laser Spine Institute

Chronic back pain can take a toll on many aspects of your life. For starters, the physical discomfort can not only be unpleasant, but it can prevent you from doing activities you enjoy as well as activities that keep you healthy. The result can be weight gain, inflexibility, and more, which can lead to disease and injury. Missing out on all those activities can have an emotional impact as well. When you’re forced to sit on the sidelines, you can feel depressed, out of touch and less confident. Chronic back pain can even force you to miss work, further damaging your emotional state and wreaking havoc with your finances.

Isthmic Spondylolisthesis

Congenital Spondylolisthesis May or May Not Cause Symptoms

Spondylolisthesis is a condition characterized by the slipping of one vertebra onto the vertebra beneath it. Generally this is caused by a fracture or degeneration of spinal discs, but in some cases, people are born with it. When that occurs it’s called congenital spondylolisthesis. Like all types of spondylolisthesis, this form can exist without causing symptoms. However, if the displaced vertebra places pressure on a nerve, then it can create pain, numbness, tingling and other symptoms. When this occurs, your doctor will create a treatment plan with the goal of minimizing your symptoms.

Cervical Spondylolisthesis is a Rare But Painful Condition

Cervical spondylolisthesis is not often the cause of neck pain, but when it is, the impact on a sufferer’s life can be huge. The pain can restrict movement and make simple activities like sleeping uncomfortable. Most of the time, it’s the degeneration of discs between the cervical vertebrae that cause the condition. As a disc wears away, flattens or shrinks, it offers less support to the vertebrae beneath or above it, allowing them to shift. This can happen anywhere in the spinal column, but when a neck vertebra shifts onto the one beneath it, it’s called cervical spondylolisthesis. In many instances, the condition causes no pain, but if the dislodged vertebra sandwiches a nerve between itself and the vertebra below it, the symptoms can be excruciating. When this occurs, a doctor will often prescribe over the counter pain medication, restriction of certain activities, special exercises, physical therapy, or other non-invasive treatments. If those are not effective in reducing pain, physicians sometimes recommend therapy.

Lumbar Spondylolisthesis Patients May Benefit from Laser Spine Institute

Lumbar spondylolisthesis afflicts countless people every year, but only a portion of them experience symptoms. Unfortunately, those symptoms can be severely painful and can include tingling, numbness, weakness and even shock-like sensations. All of these are caused by nerve compression, which sometimes occurs during lumbar spondylolisthesis. That condition, marked by one vertebrae slipping out of place onto another can sometimes cause nerve compression if a nerve gets caught between the two. The lower back, or lumbar region, is highly susceptible to this condition because it’s the area of the spinal canal that bears the most weight. Athletes are often at a higher risk for this condition as are those with a genetic predisposition for it. If you’ve been diagnosed with lumbar spondylolisthesis, your doctor may use a variety of treatments to control your symptoms including special exercises, elimination of certain activities, or a back brace. In the most severe cases, surgery may be suggested.

Spondylolisthesis Causes Vary From Patient to Patient

Spondylolisthesis is the slipping of one vertebra onto another in front of it. While many times this is a symptomless condition, occasionally the two bones will press on a nearby nerve, causing pain. There are two main causes of spondylolisthesis. A small fracture, known as a spondylolysis, can weaken the vertebra and allow it to slip out of place. Some people are more genetically susceptible to this condition than others. Athletes, especially those who put a lot of strain on their lower backs, are also at a higher risk for this kind of fracture. The second of the most common spondylolisthesis causes is deterioration of the disc between the vertebrae. This disc can shrink, disintegrate or slip out of place, allowing the vertebrae on either side of it to move more than it should. Whatever the case, the resulting pain can be a lot to bear and can include shock-like, numbing, or tingling sensations in the back. Fortunately, there are treatments for this condition that can ease your pain. In severe cases, surgery may even be recommended. If you find yourself with spondylolisthesis that causes extreme pain, you may want to explore treatment at Laser Spine Institute.

Spondylolisthesis Symptoms Can Be Similar to Those of Herniated Disc and Other Back Issues

Spondylolisthesis symptoms don’t surface for every person afflicted with the condition. To understand why, you must first understand what spondylolisthesis is: the slipping of one vertebra forward onto another. This generally occurs when a fracture in the vertebra allows it to break loose, or when the spongy, protective disc that helps to hold it in place disintegrates, slips, or shrinks. Sometimes, when this condition strikes, the two vertebra simply rest against each other. If that is the case, there will likely be no spondylolisthesis symptoms. However, in some cases the displaced vertebra will come to rest on the spine or a nerve, and the pressure will cause pain or other sensations that are common to many back problems.

Spinal Arthritis Relief through Laser Spine Surgery

Spinal arthritis is a potentially disabling condition that can rob you of your ability to work, play with your children or grandchildren, or even take a leisurely walk. In addition to back pain and spinal stiffness, spinal arthritis symptoms can include pain that runs down into the buttocks, thighs, and pelvic area. Sufferers also may experience pain or tenderness in the shoulders, knees, hips, and heels, as well as weakness or numbness in the arms or legs. In severe cases, spinal arthritis can cause problems such as trouble walking, loss of bowel and bladder control, curvature of the spine, and the inability to bend over.

Some Spinal Arthritis Patients May Be Candidates for Laser Spine Surgery

Often, spinal arthritis is manageable with medication and exercise, but in some cases, spinal arthritis can put a damper on the most active lifestyles. Men and women who once enjoyed fishing, golfing, shopping, gardening, and a host of other pastimes have found themselves virtually crippled by the disease. If the symptoms of spinal arthritis have become too much to bear and are not improved with conservative treatments, patients may be told that the next step is fusion surgery or artificial disc surgery. Both of these are invasive procedures that come with potentially serious side effects and risks.

Spinal Arthritis Pain Relief Is Possible with Our 5-Day Process

The symptoms of spinal arthritis typically begin when the bones of the spine, called the vertebrae, deteriorate with age. While there is no cure for arthritis, it can often be controlled with medication, physical therapy, and other mild treatments. If these do not ease the pain and discomfort, open back surgery might be recommended, or a patient may be told that nothing else can be done for their spinal arthritis.

Spinal Arthritis Symptoms May Be Relieved with Laser Surgery

Often occurring in the neck and lower back, spinal arthritis typically begins when joints in the spine go through the natural aging process. With spinal arthritis, bones in the spine called vertebrae, and the ligaments that run along the vertebrae, can begin to feel stiff. Gradually, vertebrae may begin to move closer together, causing pressure and irritation between each vertebra, and extra bone growth called bone spurs may develop. As the vertebrae and bone spurs rub together, inflammation and pain increase. Eventually, the pressure may work its way to the nerves of the spinal cord, causing pain, numbness, and weakness in the arms and legs.

Spondylolisthesis

The spinal column is much like a pillar that needs to be strong to support the head as well as the trunk of the body. It houses nerves that travel or send signals from our brain to the rest of our body for both movement and sensory. When one of the vertebra is displaced from its normal position or slips over the vertebra below, the condition is known as spondylolisthesis.

Sciatica Leg Pain

It is important to note that sciatica is not the condition that needs to be treated. In order to alleviate these symptoms, the physician will need to diagnose the cause of the compression or irritation to the nerve root. Treatment is dependent on the cause.

Pinched Nerve

When a pinched nerve in the back occurs; pain can usually be felt down the leg as it travels the length of the nerve. Back spasms may also be felt due to a pinched nerve in the back. It can also be associated with compression, constriction or stretching.

Spinal Stenosis

In the medical condition of spinal stenosis the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and the nerves. The natural healing process of degeneration caused by our aging process will usually cause this back condition. Spinal disc herniation and osteoporosis are a few terms that are thrown around when talking about Spinal stenosis