Treatment Options for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Treatment for the painful symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis is not limited to rest, physical therapy, and medication. Now there is a minimally invasive treatment option – the X-Stop^PK® IPD^® Procedure from Medtronic.

Once a diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis is confirmed, your physician may prescribe conservative treatment to alleviate painful symptoms. When conservative treatment fails, surgery is another treatment option.

Conservative Care

In some cases, back and leg pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis can be treated with medication, corticosteroid injections, rest, and physical therapy. If symptoms worsen, conservative measures may not provide relief and physicians and patients may begin to consider more vigorous treatment options.

Decompressive Surgery

The surgical procedure most often done for lumbar spinal stenosis is a decompressive laminectomy, sometimes accompanied by spinal fusion. This procedure involves removal of portions of the vertebrae, ligaments, and/or bulging disc(s) that are causing compression of the nerves and/or spinal cord.

Interspinous Process Implant

The X-Stop^PK® implant is inserted during a minimally invasive procedure. While the X-Stop^PK® implant is designed to remain between your spinous processes permanently to prevent the nerves from being pinched, the device can be removed. Since there is no structurally important bone removed during the procedure, the
X-Stop^PK® implant provides you and your surgeon with the option to consider additional treatments at a later time if your spinal condition progresses.

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