Cervical spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck region which can cause pain and numbness. The severity and duration of the pain depend upon how bad the stenosis is. In some cases, people can have cervical spinal stenosis and they won’t even know it. However, if the space gets really narrow, it can produce nerve compression causing a lot of pain and discomfort to the patient.
In this article, we will list out the possible treatments that can be used to cure cervical spinal stenosis. We will also share the name of one of the best spine surgeons in Los Angeles for the treatment of Cervical Spinal Stenosis. Let’s dive in!
Symptoms of Cervical Spinal Stenosis
- Chronic and persistent in the neck
- Difficulty with neck movement
- Numbness or tingling in your arms and/or legs
- Muscle weakness in your arms or legs
- Loss of bladder and bowel movement (In extreme conditions)
Surgical Treatments for Cervical Spinal Stenosis
Surgical treatments are used as a last resort to treat spine diseases. Doctors normally try to treat patients with conservative methods but some conditions can only be fixed by surgeries. Following are the surgical procedures used to treat cervical spinal stenosis.
- Spinal Decompression Surgery
One of the most common treatments for cervical spinal stenosis is decompression surgery. In this procedure, the pressure is reduced within the spinal canal by creating some space. The space is created by moving the vertebrae aside and thus the pressure on the compressed nerves is relieved, helping patients to get rid of the pain.
- Laminectomy and Laminotomy
Both Laminectomy and Laminotomy include the removal of a part from the vertebrae to create space for compressed nerves. On the basis of the diagnosis, the doctor decided which procedure to follow.
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
In this surgery, the surgeon makes a very small incision and treats the cervical spinal stenosis with the aid of advanced equipment. It is also known as video-assisted surgery.
Non-surgical Treatments for Cervical Spinal Stenosis
All treatments that do not include putting patients under the knife are non-surgical treatments. Such treatments can only help in managing the pain but they cannot provide a permanent solution to the problem. Anyways, the following are some of the most effective non-surgical treatments for spinal stenosis;
Cervical Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care involves adjusting your spine with gentle, targeted movements to relieve tightness and pain caused by arthritis and other underlying conditions that affect your neck. Chiropractic adjustments can help restore the full range of motion.
Medication
Medicines like naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin can provide short-term pain relief. If the pain is due to muscle spasms, muscle relaxants can also be used.
Best Surgeon for Cervical Spinal Stenosis Treatment in Los Angeles
We have reviewed and shortlisted the names of the top 5 spine surgeons in Los Angeles to save you some effort. Out of the five surgeons we selected, we would rate Dr. Moksha Ranasinghe to be the most reliable neurosurgeon in Los Angeles. She has been awarded as the best neurosurgeon in Los Angeles by findatopdoc.com for three consecutive years. Currently, she is serving at Southern California Brain & Spine Surgery and you can schedule an appointment with her by visiting their website.