Spinal Stenosis Specialist

LiveWell Pain Management

Nora Taha, MD

Physical Medicine & Pain Management located in Elmwood Park, NJ & Englewood, NJ

The changes that occur in your spine as you get older increase your risk for spinal stenosis. At LiveWell Pain Management in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, Nora Taha, MD, offers customized care for chronic neck pain, back pain, and other symptoms of spinal stenosis. Dr. Taha specializes in the MILD® procedure to help you regain full function of your spine. If you need help managing spinal stenosis pain, call LiveWell Pain Management to schedule an appointment or book one online today.

Spinal Stenosis Q & A

What is spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is a chronic condition that describes the narrowing of your spine. This narrowing can occur naturally as you get older because of spine injuries from a fall or car accident or if you have arthritis.

Spinal stenosis can also develop if the ligaments within your spine become thick or if you develop a spinal tumor.

What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis?

Symptoms of spinal stenosis develop when the narrowing of your spine puts extra pressure on nearby nerves. In the initial stages of spinal stenosis, your symptoms may be mild, but over time they can worsen until you can no longer be active without pain.

Your symptoms depend on the area in your spine where the narrowing occurs. If the narrowing affects your cervical spine (neck), you may experience pain and other issues that affect your neck, shoulders, arms, and hands.

If the narrowing occurs in your lumbar (lower) spine, your symptoms will be more apparent in your lower back, legs, and feet.

In addition to persistent pain, spinal stenosis can cause:

Numbness
Weakness
Cramping
Tingling sensations

Spinal stenosis in your lumbar spine can also result in difficulty tolerating standing or walking.

How is spinal stenosis treated?

There are several treatment options that Dr. Taha uses to manage the pain and other symptoms of spinal stenosis. Based on your individual needs, she may recommend treatments like:

MILD® procedure

Minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD®) is a procedure that uses specialized instruments to remove thickened ligaments in the narrowed part of your spine. This alleviates pressure on your spinal cord and nerves by creating more space within your spine.

Dr. Taha can use the MILD procedure to treat chronic pain from spinal stenosis and improve your daily function. Patients report significant improvement of their low back and leg pains following the procedure.

Other therapies

Dr. Taha may also recommend physical therapy and medical Acupuncture to help you heal more efficiently and restore your spine’s range of motion. Dr. Taha may do a trial of epidural steroid injections as they can help short-term with symptoms from spinal stenosis and, in some cases, provide long-lasting relief.

Learn more about your options for treating spinal stenosis pain by calling LiveWell Pain Management or requesting a consultation online today.

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