The incidence of lower back pain in the United States is growing thanks to an aging population. Experts predict that 65 million elderly adults will develop lumbar spinal stenosis by 2025, which is just a few years away.

The team here at Spinal Diagnostics is pleased to offer the FDA-approved, minimally invasive procedure called Vertiflex™ to answer this fast-growing need for a solution to this type of lower back pain.

If you want to explore whether you may be a candidate for Vertiflex, read on.

The first thing to understand about Vertiflex is that it’s specifically designed for those who suffer from lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Briefly, stenosis is a condition in which nerve space is reduced around your spine, which can occur in your spinal canal or in your intervertebral foramina, which are the bony openings where your nerves exit your spinal canal. 

There are several reasons why this can occur, including:

• Osteoarthritis in your spine
• Degenerative disc disease
• Thickening ligaments in your spinal canal

While these are the most common drivers of LSS, the condition can develop anytime something encroaches upon your nerves, which also includes tumors or bone deformities due to an accident or a congenital condition.

Spinal stenosis can develop gradually, and many people don’t feel symptoms in the earlier stages. Once the narrowing strikes a literal nerve, your symptoms may include:

• Pain in your lower back, especially with specific movements or positions (walking and standing)
• Pain that radiates down your buttocks and legs
• Numbness and tingling
• Loss of balance
• Weakness 

These symptoms often go away when your back is at rest (lying down) or when you lean forward, taking pressure off the compressed nerve(s).

If you’ve developed problematic symptoms due to LSS, Vertiflex may be your ticket back to pain-free movement.