Spinal Stenosis Specialist

Glaser Pain Relief Center

Interventional Pain Management Specialists located in San Fernando Valley, Encino, CA

There are over 200,000 cases of symptomatic spinal stenosis in the United States each year. Spinal stenosis can put significant pressure on your spinal cord and cause discomfort to your neck and lower back. Interventional pain management specialists Jeffrey Glaser, MD, and John Zheng, DO, at Glaser Pain Relief Center in Encino, California, can help you get relief from this painful condition. Serving the San Fernando Valley and the Greater Los Angeles Area, the team diagnoses and treats your spinal stenosis, while helping you to prevent further symptoms. Call or book online today to make an appointment.

818-501-7246

Spinal Stenosis Q & A

What is spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is a condition in which spaces in your spine narrow, applying pressure to the nerves traveling through your spine. It typically occurs in your lower back and neck.

If you have spinal stenosis, your symptoms can range anywhere from pain, numbness, tingling, or weakened muscles, and can intensify over time without medical attention.

There are two main areas in the spine where spinal stenosis typically occurs:

Cervical stenosis

This is the narrowing in the part of your spine near your neck.

Lumbar stenosis

This spinal narrowing occurs in your lower back. It's also the more prevalent form of spinal stenosis.

What are symptoms of spinal stenosis?

Your symptoms will differ based on where the stenosis occurs, either your neck or your back. For stenosis in your neck, symptoms include:

Neck pain
Numbness or tingling in your hands, arm, feet, or legs
Weakness in your hand, arms, feet, or legs
Difficulty walking and balancing
Bladder issues or urinary incontinence

For stenosis in your lower back, symptoms include:

Back pain
Numbness or tingling in your feet or legs
Weakness in your feet or legs
Cramping in your legs while standing or walking

Signs of spinal stenosis vary from person to person and can worsen over time, so it’s important to let your physician at Glaser Pain Relief Center know the severity and extent of your symptoms.

What causes spinal stenosis?

Your spinal bones create a canal to protect the nerves in your spinal cord. You can be born with a smaller than average spinal canal, but most cases of spinal stenosis occur when a condition arises that narrows the space of your spinal canal. Some common causes include:

Herniated discs
Bone spurs (overgrown bones)
Tumors
Spinal injuries (from car accidents, sports injuries, etc.)

A visit to the specialists at Glaser Pain Relief Center can help identify the cause of your spinal stenosis and allow them to develop an effective treatment plan.

How do you treat spinal stenosis?

Your pain management physician at Glaser Pain Relief Center discusses your medical history and symptoms and performs a thorough physical exam to help make a comprehensive diagnosis. They then determine the most effective type of treatment for your spinal stenosis, depending on a variety of factors, including the location of your stenosis and the severity of your signs and symptoms.

Treatment might include lower back or neck pain relief in the form of physical therapy or lifestyle modifications. In more severe cases, your physician may opt for minimally invasive treatments such as epidurals, facet injections, radiofrequencty (RF) ablations, spinal cord stimulation (SCS), or other therapies. Surgery will only be recommended when absolutely necessary.

If you have been diagnosed with or suspect you have spinal stenosis, it’s better not to take a chance. Call or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment at Glaser Pain Relief Center today to be one step closer to spinal stenosis relief.