A stenosis is a narrowing of a passageway in the body, such as the spinal canal. Stenosis in arteries is due to cholesterol build-up in the wall. In the spine, the discs may bulge in combination with thickening of the bones and ligaments to close down the space for the nerves. This comes on slowly with back pain and difficulty walking or standing. Typically there is a walk-rest-walk pattern and stenosis patients often walk better while bending over or holding on to a market basket. Many patients with symptoms have thick bone structure or a smaller than normal spinal canal to begin with.

For further information, see: http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/704859?sssdmh=dm1.580657&src=journalnl&uac=139430MK

I have a minimally invasive treatment I call MISLD, for Micro-operative Intersegmental Lumbar Decompression that I learned years ago at a microsurgical workshop in St. Louis. If only one level has stenosis, it can be treated through a one-inch incision as day surgery. Two and three-level stenosis patients often go home the next day.

Stenosis patients often have degenerative slippage of one vertebra on the other. That can now be stabilized by placing a small metal clamp on the backs of the spine beneath the muscle through the same small incision. Most patients go home the next day.