Each year Mayo Clinic specialists evaluate and treat 4,500 to 5,500 people for problems caused by a narrowing of the spinal column. There are surgical and non-surgical options for treatments, and each one holds its own recovery period.

Symptoms

The main symptom of lumbar spinal stenosis is pain in the legs due to activity. It is important to note that if it is spinal stenosis, this pain will fade when sitting down. Lumbar spinal stenosis is a condition that occurs in a people over the age of fifty.

Diagnosis

Correct diagnosis is imperative. Some of the methods doctors use to diagnose this spinal condition are: X-rays, CT scans, MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) and myelograms (special X-ray of the spine).

Non-Surgical Treatment

Patients will be prescribed some pain medication and/or anti-inflammatory medications. Some of the more difficult cases require a non-invasive surgical treatment of corticosteroids injections.

Surgical Treatment

"Spinal stenosis can be relieved by removing the overgrown portions of the facet joints posteriorly. At times only parts of the facet joint have to be removed. In more severe cases, most of the facet joints will have to be removed," according to Dr. Lawrence Lenke and Dr. Keith Bridwell on SpineUniverse.com.

Recovery Time

The average post-operation recovery and hospital stay is about three days. There is a 48-hour time frame where the patient will experience some discomfort.

Surgery with a Fusion

If the surgery includes a fusion, this procedure can add about two or three days onto a patient's hospital stay.

Source:

Spine Universe: Article on Diagnosis and Procedure

Spine Pain Consultants of New York: Treatment for Spinal Stenosis

Mayo Clinic: Spinal Stenosis

More Information:

Biscup Spine Institute: The Knowledge Center