Spinal Stenosis Treatment in Tallahassee, FL

What Is Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal — the channel that runs through the vertebrae and houses the spinal cord and nerve roots. As this space narrows, it compresses the nerves inside, producing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that typically radiates into the legs or arms depending on where the narrowing occurs. Lumbar spinal stenosis, affecting the lower back, is by far the most common form.

The most recognizable pattern of lumbar stenosis is neurogenic claudication — leg heaviness, cramping, or pain that comes on after walking a certain distance or standing for a period of time, and that relieves when you sit down, lean forward, or bend at the waist. Many patients find they can walk much further pushing a shopping cart than walking upright — the forward lean opens up space in the spinal canal and temporarily reduces nerve compression.

What Causes It

Spinal stenosis most commonly develops as a gradual result of aging. Over time, the ligamentum flavum — a thick ligament that runs along the back of the spinal canal — thickens and buckles inward. Bone spurs form on the facet joints, discs bulge or herniate, and the joints themselves enlarge as part of the degenerative process. Each of these changes contributes to narrowing of the available space for the spinal cord and nerve roots. Stenosis is one of the most common causes of back and leg pain in adults over 60, and it tends to worsen slowly over time without treatment.

How We Evaluate It

We begin with a thorough history focused on the pattern of your symptoms — particularly how far you can walk, what relieves your leg pain, and how your function has changed over time. A physical examination helps assess strength, sensation, and reflexes in the affected limbs. We review existing imaging including MRI and CT scans to evaluate the degree and location of spinal canal narrowing, the condition of the ligamentum flavum, and any associated disc or facet changes. This evaluation guides our recommendation for the most appropriate treatment approach for your specific anatomy and symptom pattern.

How We Treat Spinal Stenosis

For patients with nerve root inflammation contributing to their symptoms, epidural steroid injections can reduce swelling around the compressed nerves and provide meaningful relief. For carefully selected patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication, the MILD procedure — minimally invasive lumbar decompression — removes thickened ligament and bone material through a tiny incision to restore space in the spinal canal. It is a same-day outpatient procedure that does not require general anesthesia or implants, and most patients experience a meaningful improvement in their walking distance and standing tolerance. For patients with persistent symptoms despite other treatments, spinal cord stimulation and intrathecal drug delivery may be evaluated as longer-term options.

When open surgical decompression is the most appropriate next step — particularly in cases of severe stenosis with significant neurological compromise — we will refer you to a spine surgeon. Our goal is to ensure every patient is matched to the right intervention for their specific situation, and that no minimally invasive option is overlooked before more invasive approaches are considered.