The Warning Signs of Spinal Stenosis You Shouldn't Ignore

14. Treatment options

There are many treatments that may be effective at treating spinal stenosis. Physical therapy can help maintain mobility by strengthening core and back muscles and stabilizing the spine. For people with weak abdominal muscles or older adults with age-related spinal changes, back braces can help provide support.

Some medications may be helpful, including anti-inflammatory medications that can help relieve inflammation and pain, prescription pain relievers, or numbing injections.

Surgery may also be an option for some people with spinal stenosis if nonsurgical interventions are not effective or for those who are experiencing issues with bowel and bladder control or numbness and pain that interferes with walking. Surgical options can include the following:

• Laminectomy: This surgery involves the removal of bony spurs on the vertebra and can help open the spinal column to relieve pressure on the nerves.
• Spinal fusion: In a spinal fusion, a surgeon joins two to more vertebrae that have moved out of position to secure the discs together, closing the space between them.

Newer treatments include interspinous spacers and stem cell therapy. Interspinous spacers is placed during a minimally invasive procedure that blocks the affected part of the spine from extending, preventing spinal compression. Recent research also shows that stem cell therapy may be effective at treating lower back pain, including lower back pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis, but more long-term studies are needed.