Neural foraminal narrowing, which is the constriction of the nerve passageways in the spine, can exert pressure on spinal nerves as they attempt to receive and send signals to and from other parts of the body. This condition, also referred to as foraminal stenosis or spinal stenosis, can have several causes, such as illness, injury, congenital defects, poor posture, prolonged misuse and tumors, among others.

Degenerative conditions leading to neural foraminal narrowing

The most common causes of neural foraminal narrowing are degenerative spine conditions that can develop over the course of the natural aging process. Every aspect of our spines, from the discs and vertebrae to the facet joints and ligaments, can begin to deteriorate as we grow older, giving way to a variety of anatomical abnormalities, including:

• Herniated or bulging discs
• Bone spurs
• Spondylolisthesis
• Facet disease
• Degenerative disc disease

Minimally invasive neural foraminal narrowing treatments

Neural foraminal narrowing can occur bilaterally (on both sides) or unilaterally (on one side). Regardless of which side of the body is affected, symptoms can include pain, tingling, numbness, cramping, spasms and weakness. These sensations may remain localized at the site of neural compression, but it is more common for symptoms to travel along the path of the pinched nerve.

If your doctor has diagnosed you with neural foraminal narrowing, he or she may suggest a variety of conservative treatment methods. Pain medication, behavior modification, stretching, hot and cold compresses, physical therapy and low-impact exercise have helped many patients to find relief from their symptoms.

In the event that you require more targeted decompression treatment and your doctor suggests spine surgery, consider contacting USA Spine Care. We offer a variety of outpatient procedures that are a safer and effective alternative to traditional open spine surgery.^ Since 2005, our procedures have helped more than 75,000 patients find relief from chronic neck or back pain.

Reach out to our dedicated team today for more information and for your no-cost MRI review.* We can evaluate your condition to see if you are a candidate for one of our minimally invasive spine surgery procedures, which can help you get back to the activities you love.

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