What is the treatment for lumbar foraminal narrowing?

What is the treatment for lumbar foraminal narrowing?

Foraminotomy: A minimally invasive procedure in which your surgeon removes a tiny piece of bone or soft tissue that is causing compression on a nerve. This enlarges the openings of the foramina. As a result, the nerve has more space and is no longer pinched.

Can you recover from foraminal stenosis?

A Few Weeks After the Surgery After three or four weeks have passed, many patients can return, for the most part, to their normal activities. However, it is important to continue to avoid strenuous activities that cause too much movement in your spinal column.

Is foraminal stenosis fatal?

As our spine degenerates, whether due to age or other conditions, foraminal narrowing may occur as trapped debris compresses the nerves exiting through the foramen. Nerve impingement due to neural foraminal stenosis can cause nerve death, which is a serious problem.

What does foraminal mean in medical terms?

Foraminal stenosis is the narrowing or tightening of the openings between the bones in your spine. These small openings are called the foramen. Foraminal stenosis is a specific type of spinal stenosis. Nerves pass though the foramen from your spinal cord out to the rest of your body.

What does encroachment mean on an MRI?

By: Dr. Nicholas LaHood, D.C. Foraminal encroachment is a term used to describe degeneration of the spinal column which has caused an obstruction of the foramina. The foramina are open spaces on either sides of the vertebra where the spinal nerves pass on their way to other parts of the body.

What happens if foraminal stenosis is left untreated?

This symptom is most likely to occur if the foraminal stenosis is undiagnosed and/or untreated. If this condition is ignored or not detected, then afflicted nerves may die, which can lead to loss of bodily function.

What causes foraminal encroachment?

Foraminal narrowing can develop when degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, bone spurs or a herniated disc causes changes in the spine that narrow or tighten open spaces. Many people have spinal narrowing and don’t know it.

What is the treatment for foraminal encroachment?

In most cases foraminal encroachment can be managed by a combination of conservative treatments methods. These methods include rest, exercise, stretching, and chiropractic care. If the condition is advanced and has been developing for many years without treatment it can turn into foraminal stenosis.

How is foraminal encroachment treated?

These include: Stretches, Heat and cold therapy, Strength-building exercises, Hot massages, Acupuncture, and Weight loss which can also ease pressure on the spine and nerve roots. The physician might also prescribe medication to ease pain associated with foraminal stenosis, such as: Aspirin (Bufferin)

Is foraminal encroachment a disability?

Foraminal Stenosis can be one of the spine disorders that qualify for disability. The symptoms of foraminal stenosis can be severely disabling. The SSA uses a medical guide, which is called the Blue Book, to determine if a claimant medically qualifies for disability benefits.

What are the symptoms of foraminal encroachment?

Symptoms. The symptoms may include numbness, weakness, burning sensations, tingling and “pins and needles” in the arms and legs. The risk of the foramen narrowing increases with age and with other musculoskeletal conditions, such as arthritis.

When is surgery needed for foraminal stenosis?

When neurological deficits, such as numbness or weakness that goes into the arm or hand, continues to worsen despite nonsurgical treatments, surgery may be considered. The goal of surgery for cervical foraminal stenosis is to decompress the inflamed nerve root in order to give it more space to heal and function better.