Treatment for spinal stenosis is usually conservative at first. Doctors like to give their patients three to six months to get relief without the trauma of surgery. Medications, steroid injections, and lifestyle changes are often helpful. Physical therapy is also effective in relieving pain and improving function.

When these measures don't help, then surgery may be considered. The operation involves removing bone from around the nerve tissue. This is called decompression. Sometimes spinal fusion is required at the same time to stabilize the spine.

There are some very serious potential complications from this operation. Patients who are in poor health or very old often have a poor result after surgery. These factors may prevent them from having the procedure.

Surgeons are working to improve the surgical technique. Methods are being tried to avoid the invasive nature of a decompression procedure. Microdecompression (decompression that is done with a microscope) is helping to reduce the amount of time in surgery, reduce blood loss, and speed up the recovery process.

It might be a good idea to go with your grandmother to her next appointment and talk with her doctor. If you don't live in her area, then perhaps a phone call (with her permission) would help you understand her particular situation and treatment options. You may want to ask if she is a good candidate for microdecompression or other less invasive procedures for this problem.