Stenosis is the narrowing of your spinal canal, a condition that puts pressure on your spinal cord. If it occurs in your lower back, you feel lower back pain and stiffness. It affects your quality of life because you’re constantly in pain. Visit an experienced and highly-trained spine specialist like Dr. Amr Hosny and the team at the Spine & Rehab Group in NYC and northern NJ. They can determine what’s going on and give you options to get out of pain. Call today for an appointment.
What Does Lumbar Stenosis Mean?
Lumbar stenosis is a condition that puts pressure on your spinal cord, causing lower back pain and leg pain. Since this condition progresses slowly, you may not even realize you have the disease. It’s more prevalent in older Americans because the aging process gradually causes wear and tear within the lumbar spinal tissues and bones, where you carry most of your weight. As a result, this slow decline can lead to several degenerative conditions, such as:
Because the condition is degenerative, getting your spine checked by a spine specialist at the first twinge of pain can catch the condition early. In New York City and the surrounding New Jersey counties, Dr. Amr Hosny and the team of specialists at the Spine & Rehab Group have years of experience with spinal problems. During your consultation, your spine doctor determines the cause of your pain and decides if you need lumbar stenosis treatment or lumbar stenosis surgery.
What Causes Lumbar Stenosis?
By the time you reach the age of 50, you have a nearly 95 percent chance of showing some signs of spinal degeneration. Men over 60 are slightly more at risk than women of getting lumbar stenosis. A few people are even born with back problems that eventually turn into lumbar stenosis. You may notice the first symptoms of the disease as young as 30 to 50.Since stenosis narrows your spinal canal, putting more pressure on your spinal cord, it can cause additional back problems like sciatica. There are many reasons for having lumbar stenosis, which is why you need a spine specialist like Dr. Hosny to make an accurate diagnosis. The main causes for lumbar stenosis include:
Osteoarthritis, a form of arthritis that wears away the cartilage that protects the joints
Your treatment depends on how mild your back pain is. For mild to medium symptoms, your pain management doctor may direct you to take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain medication to reduce the swelling. Your spine specialist may recommend a few other pain management techniques, such as:
Hot or cold compresses
Massages
Acupuncture treatments
Physical therapy exercises to help strengthen your back, stomach and leg muscles
Maintaining a healthy weight and learning the correct posture for walking, standing and sitting help prevent painful back conditions. The non-invasive treatments that your doctor recommends depends on your specific diagnosis. If you have severe back pain or a more serious case of stenosis, your spine specialist recognizes that different treatments are needed.
What if the Non-Invasive Treatments Don’t Work?
There’s no such thing as the best treatment for lumbar stenosis, since one treatment doesn’t work for everyone. If non-invasive treatments don’t deliver the level of pain reduction you’re hoping for, your spine specialist may suggest minimally invasive lumbar stenosis treatments, such as:
All of these treatments are performed as outpatient procedures. They’re done in your doctor’s office, and you’re sent home to recover after a short observation period. These treatments aren’t permanent, but the pain-relieving effects can last weeks or months.
patient TESTIMONIALS★★★★★
I have been a patient at The Spine & Rehab Group for over 16 years due to chronic pain from a failed spinal fusion. In my experience, the care has only improved over this time period. One thing that has changed is I no longer have to wait for an hour or more to be seen; they keep to their schedule so I can keep to mine. What hasn't changed is the fact that everyone here is kind and compassionate; they always go the extra mile to help me out. Whether it's a certain medication that I have to fight to get approval for, a needed treatment, or a financial hardship, they have always worked with me to attain the best possible outcome. They always put the patient first and are current on the latest technologies/techniques when it comes to back care.
Though I'm still searching for a cure to my back pain, I know until that day comes, The Spine & Rehab Group has got my back.
Sharon M.★★★★★
Been seeing Dr. Chu at The Spine & Rehab Group since 2021 and have had lower back surgery with rods. He adjusted me during my follow-up procedure making sure I have less pain. And, I had pain free function after surgery.
Unfortunately, lumbar stenosis has no permanent cure. Your spine specialist offers you the best treatment for lumbar stenosis available. Sometimes, the best treatment involves a surgery to relieve your increasing symptoms. The reasons Dr. Hosny may suggest surgery include:
Your back and leg pain are so severe that it limits normal activity and impacts your quality of life.
You lose control over your bowel or bladder functions.
The numbness or tingling in your buttocks and legs escalates.
The weakness you feel in one or both of your legs increases.
Bone spurs need to be removed to widen the space between your vertebrae.
You find it difficult to stand or walk.
Your lower back has to be stabilized by fusing spinal bones together.
You’ve tried all the non-surgical treatments available, but nothing has worked effectively.
With easy-to-find locations in Morris County, Union County and Bergen County, NJ, a Spine & Rehab Group office is near you. If you’re in NYC, you can contact the practice in Greenwich Village, Midtown Manhattan or the Financial District. Book an appointment to get rid of your lower back pain.
Page Updated on Dec 9, 2024 by Dr. Hosny (Interventional Spine Specialist) of The Spine & Rehab Group
Dr. Hosny is a distinguished physician, educator, and healthcare leader with a commitment to advancing health equity and accessibility in the rapidly evolving landscape of modern healthcare. After completing his residency at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, affiliated with Columbia University in New York City, he pursued an Interventional Spine Fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, part of Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA.
Dr. Hosny has held prominent roles in academic medicine, including serving as an Associate Clinical Professor at New York Medical College and as the Interventional Spine Fellowship Program Director. These positions reflect his dedication to mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals and advancing the field of interventional spine care.
CONTENT DISCLAIMER The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended as definitive treatment advice. It's essential to consult a board-certified pain specialist regarding any questions or concerns. Always seek a thorough evaluation for an accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plan. To schedule a consultation, please contact our office directly.
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Lumbar stenosis is a condition that puts pressure on your spinal cord, causing lower back pain and leg pain. Since this condition progresses slowly, you may not even realize you have the disease. It’s more prevalent in older Americans because the aging process gradually causes wear and tear within the lumbar spinal tissues and bones, where you carry most of your weight. As a result, this slow decline can lead to several degenerative conditions, such as:
Amr Hosny, MD, MBA, FASA
David Chu, MD, FAAPMR
Vivek Mehta, MD, FAAPMR
Deepali Gupta, MD, DABA, DABPM
