Interspinous Spacers for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Whether it’s due to the natural result of aging or a condition like Paget’s disease, your spine can go through some changes over time. These changes — specifically lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) — can cause discomfort and pain that impact your quality of life.
While most medical providers will recommend conservative treatment options first, sometimes these don’t provide the relief you need. Now, with minimally invasive spine procedures like Vertiflex® interspinous spacers, you don’t need to undergo invasive surgeries to relieve your pain and revive your life.
What Is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?
Lumbar spinal stenosis involves a narrowing of the spinal canal, which typically gets progressively worse. The lumbar spine, which has several vertebrae, includes discs that help provide mobility and shock absorption for the spine. When this area begins to narrow, there is increased pressure where the nerves go through, leading to discomfort and pain.
It often occurs in the lower back, causing symptoms ranging from stiffness to cramping, especially in the buttocks and legs.
What Are the Symptoms of LSS?
Some individuals with LSS may not have significant or even noticeable symptoms. Others may experience pain mainly when standing or walking but may find some relief when they sit or lie down with their feet elevated.
For some, though, LSS can cause painful symptoms, especially as the condition progresses. It all depends on how compressed the nerves are and where the condition manifests.
Common symptoms include:
- Leg pain.
- Severe back pain.
- Difficulty standing.
- Difficulty walking in a straight line.
- Numbness and tingling.
- Weakness in the arms and legs.
- Burning or a “pins and needles” sensation.
- Pain that is either sharp or dull.
What Are the Causes of LSS?
Lumbar spinal stenosis is often caused by degenerative disease, or the natural aging process. There are several other ways that the spinal canal can begin to narrow, such as suffering from a spinal injury.
Other common causes of LSS include:
- Genetics.
- Paget’s disease.
- Facet disease.
- Bone spurs.
- Tumors.
- Herniated disks.
- Bulging discs.
- Thickened spinal ligaments.
- Osteoarthritis.
Benefits of the Vertiflex® Interspinous Spacer
In the past, the most common treatment options for more severe cases of LSS involved surgical procedures like laminectomy or decompressive laminectomy. For some patients, though, the risk of these surgical procedures makes it more challenging to effectively treat the condition and recover following the procedure.
With Vertiflex® spinal spacers, patients have access to a minimally invasive procedure that effectively treats localized symptomatic stenosis. This safe, cutting-edge treatment is FDA-approved and has an anatomic design to optimlly fit your individual anatomy. The spinal spacers, which are made out of titanium, are implanted between your vertebrae to act as an extension blocker and relieve pressure.
Compared to invasive surgical procedures, patients can experience an array of benefits, including:
- A streamlined procedure.
- Reduced operating time and hospital stay.
- Maximized patient safety.
- Minimal blood loss.
- Reduced leg pain and symptoms.
- Reduced risk of infection.
- Improvement in function.
- No destabilization of the spine.
- Faster healing time.
Discover the Treatment You Need to Relieve Your Spinal Pain
At Spine INA, we have a caring team of physicians, surgeons and patient facilitators who will learn more about your medical history and symptoms to formulate a care path that works best for you. With our focus on minimally invasive procedures like Vertiflex® interspinous spacers and effective follow-up care, we’ll help you return to a more active, fuller life.
Interested in learning more about how we can help you find relief for your spinal pain with interspinous spacers? Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
