If you have been diagnosed with foraminal stenosis — the narrowing of the nerve-root exits between vertebrae — you likely are anxious to get started on treatment to overcome your spine condition. But what happens if you don’t follow your treatment plan or you decide to put it off for a while? With limited exceptions, treatment for a degenerative spine condition is usually considered voluntary. However, there are a few dangers of neglecting treatment that you should fully consider before making the decision to delay addressing your condition.

Here’s what you’re up against

When you don’t treat foraminal stenosis, you should be aware that these outcomes are possible:

1. Your symptoms won’t get any better — This is the primary effect of not treating your condition. The chances that symptoms will improve on their own without taking active steps to treat them are very low.
2. You could do nerve damage — In some cases, if you delay treatment you risk permanently damaging the nerves housed within the foramen. Your physician should be able to give you a better idea of how serious your condition is, but it can be difficult to predict when and if nerve damage could occur.
3. Your lifestyle could be permanently affected — When patients elect to hold off on foraminal stenosis treatment, they don’t realize the decision they are making and how the condition has already affected their lifestyle. Too often people sacrifice doing the things that they love because of their pain.

Why not explore your treatment options?

One of the reasons that some people avoid foraminal stenosis treatment is they are worried they might need surgery, and are afraid of the potential risks and lengthy recovery associated with open spine surgery. At USA Spine Care, however, we offer an alternative with our minimally invasive procedures that are conducted on an outpatient basis. To learn about our revolutionary approach to spine treatment and determine if you might be a candidate for our procedures, contact us today.