I just came back from the doctor's office. She showed me the MRI of my spine. I have an oddly shaped canal where the spinal cord goes through. It looks like I was born with this, but as I get older, it's starting to cause a problem called spinal stenosis. My doctor is referring me to a neurosurgeon. But what can a surgeon do about a condition I've had since birth?
Narrowing of the spinal canal is called spinal stenosis (SS). It is a common cause of back and/or leg pain and difficulty walking in older adults. Even people born with perfectly normal spinal canals can develop stenosis.
Anything that narrows the open space around the spinal cord can cause stenosis. Sometimes arthritic changes in the bone can narrow this opening. Bone spurs form or the vertebral body starts to collapse.
Changes in the spinal joints can also contribute to the problem. And it's not uncommon for the main spinal ligaments such as the ligamentum flavum (LF) along the back of the spine to get thicker. During movement, the LF can get pinched inside the spinal canal.
Patients with certain congenital shapes of the spinal canal can also develop (SS). Narrowing of the spinal canal caused by the natural shape of this opening combined with degenerative changes can result in symptoms associated with SS.
The surgeon can reshape the spinal canal. Using a surgical microscope, surgical instruments are passed into the spinal canal. The microscope gives the surgeon a clear and constant view inside the spinal canal. A special high-speed, diamond-tipped drill is used to shave away bone.
The procedure is called a microdecompression. Bone spurs can also be removed with this technique. If necessary, the LF can be cut and removed.
Once you consult with the neurosurgeon, you'll have a better idea of what is planned for your situation. Each operation is carefully planned based on the anatomy of each patient. Many improvements have been made in this procedure so that patients of all ages and complexity can be safely and effectively treated for this problem.
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