Question: I have had surgery for a disk injury now I have stenosis, pinching nerves. What is the best option for dealing with this, other than more surgery?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Having disc removal won't necessarily cure you of your back problems. Once stenosis develops, it is important to determine whether it is in the spinal canal or in the narrow channels where the nerve roots exit the spinal cord to form nerves outside of the spine itself.
Stenosis in those passageways is usually amenable to laser surgery, though many insurance companies won't approve if you have had prior back surgery and may try to push you to have a spinal fusion procedure, which is not always in the patient's best interest. Spinal stenosis is a very different issue, and this is usually treated non-surgically with few exceptions, mainly because of the risks of spinal cord damage with overly aggressive surgery.
I always favor a less invasive treatment, when possible, but you will need to discuss your options with your neurologist and with your spinal surgeon, as well as your primary care physician. Ask whether the procedure is necessary now or whether you can try other treatments first.
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