Traditional Care and Treatment of Lumbar Stenosis

The initial care for the patient suffering from radiculopathy is usually non-surgical treatment.  This conservative care can include physical therapy, chiropractic care, and pain management with the possible use of epidural steroid injections. If the patient fails to significantly improve with non-surgical measures surgery may be indicated.

Traditionally, surgery for lumbar stenosis involves the removal of bone and ligament that are compressing the nerves.  This surgery is termed laminectomy and partial facetectomy.   Minimally invasive spinal surgery is a more focused operation but still involves the removal of some of the structures of the spine to create a greater opening for the nerves to pass through.