What to Expect When Receiving a Spinal Stenosis Diagnosis

You may not know what to expect when you visit your doctor complaining of problems you believe are related to spinal stenosis. A spinal stenosis diagnosis is not particularly arduous, but walking in knowing what to expect may help to make the process move more smoothly.

First, your doctor will check your medical history before performing physical and neurological examinations on you. The examinations help your doctor to understand the connections between your physical condition and the way you respond to specific stimuli. At this point your doctor should have a good idea what your diagnosis is, but oftentimes, doctors like to take X-rays of your spine to help in the diagnosis process. Additional medical imaging, such as an MRI or CT scan, may be sought out if your doctor has still not reached a diagnosis.

Could You Be Diagnosed with Something Else?

You may have spinal stenosis, but your doctor probably will diagnose you with a more specific condition that has caused your spinal stenosis. The reason for this is that spinal stenosis is simply a term that signifies the narrowing of the spinal canal. The narrowing of the spinal canal is merely an effect that can be caused by other spine abnormalities and conditions. For instance, you might have an intervertebral disc bulging into your spinal canal or a bone spur that is constricting your spinal canal, but they are both reducing the size of the spinal canal and may have similar symptoms. Since both are causes of spinal stenosis, your doctor will most likely tell you what the specific cause of your spinal stenosis is, be it a bulging disc and bone spur, or herniated disc, spondylolisthesis, or another cause.

Treatment after Receiving a Spinal Stenosis Diagnosis

After confirming your spinal stenosis diagnosis, your doctor will explain the severity of your condition and walk you through possible treatment options so that you understand them. Conservative treatment, including bed rest, physical therapy, hot/cold therapy, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), will probably first be recommended to you by your doctor.