Foraminal Stenosis Symptoms—How to Deal With Them

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

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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.

Learning the technical information about your condition is one thing. Of course, what you really want to know is how to manage the symptoms of foraminal stenosis, which can include localized or radiating pain, tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness.

Fortunately, most people who experience symptoms associated with this condition are able to manage them using conservative treatments, including:

Over-the-counter medications
Prescription medicine
Back or neck braces
Physical therapy
Swimming or other gentle exercise
Stretching
Hot or cold compresses
Therapeutic massage
Steroidal injections
Chiropractic therapy
Acupuncture

Most patients suffering from foraminal stenosis respond well to a combination of these conservative treatments. However, if back or neck pain persists after weeks or months, a doctor might suggest surgery as an option. In fact, sometimes the only way to relieve these symptoms is for a surgeon to go in and decompress the nerve root or roots that are impinged.

Fortunately, Laser Spine Institute (LSI) offers an alternative to traditional open-back surgery, which comes with the risk of many complications. Contact LSI to learn more about this minimally invasive, outpatient procedure and how it can help you rediscover a life without the pain of foraminal stenosis. We’ll review your MRI or CT scan for free.

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