Spinal Stenosis Specialist

Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine

Spine Surgeons located in Shrewsbury, NJ & Toms River, NJ & Edison, NJ

Your chance of developing spinal stenosis increases over the years as wear-and-tear takes a toll on your spine and causes degenerative disease. As spine specialists, Steve Paragioudakis, MD, and Marc Menkowitz, MD, at the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine, offer comprehensive care for spinal stenosis. They provide the full range of treatment, beginning with conservative therapies and performing minimally invasive procedures when needed to relieve your pain and restore mobility. For help with your back or neck pain, call one of the offices in Shrewsbury, Toms River, and Edison, New Jersey, or schedule an appointment online today.

Spinal Stenosis Q & A

What causes spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis occurs when the area inside the spinal canal narrows. Though spinal stenosis can develop after a spinal injury, you’re more likely to have the problem due to degenerative conditions like:

Herniated discs
Facet joint arthritis
Degenerative disc disease
Vertebral bone spurs
Thickened spinal ligaments
Slipped vertebrae

A slipped vertebra affects the spinal canal by misaligning the spine. The other underlying conditions lead to spinal stenosis as they protrude into the spinal canal.

What symptoms does spinal stenosis cause?

Spinal stenosis causes back pain in the affected area. In many cases, spinal stenosis also compresses the nerves, causing symptoms that travel down your arms and legs.

You may experience symptoms such as:

Pain in your neck or lower back
Pain that radiates down your arms or legs
Tingling or numbness in your arms or legs
Weakness or tiredness in your arms or legs
Leg cramping
Hand weakness
Difficulty walking

Though spinal stenosis can affect any part of your spine, it most often occurs in your lower back or lumbar spine.

How do specialists diagnose spinal stenosis?

In addition to a physical examination and reviewing your symptoms, your provider at the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine uses diagnostic imaging.

The most common imaging tests used to verify the presence of spinal stenosis include X-rays and an MRI. In some cases, you may also need a CT scan.

How do specialists treat spinal stenosis?

The team at the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine begins with conservative therapies. Your conservative treatment plan may include pain medications, physical therapy, and activity modification.

When you need more pain relief than you get with oral medications, your provider may give you an epidural steroid injection. This injection precisely targets the affected nerves, reducing inflammation, and giving you longer-lasting pain relief.

If your pain persists despite conservative treatment, your provider talks with you about surgery. The type of procedure you need depends on the underlying problem. You may need spinal decompression, removal of bone spurs, or a discectomy.

During a decompression procedure, your provider may remove part of the bone to enlarge the spinal canal. After removing some of the bone or a disc, your provider then does a spinal fusion to stabilize and strengthen your spine.

If you need relief from ongoing back or neck pain, book an appointment online or call Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine today.

Spinal Stenosis

Interlaminar Stabilization (coflex®)

What we offer