By Dr. Bruce Mark, DC | Hollywood Laser Pain Center | Hollywood, Florida
Lumbar spinal stenosis is the most common reason for spinal surgery in adults over 65 in the United States. Many older patients find their walking distance has shortened, they need to lean forward on a shopping cart to walk comfortably, or leg pain and cramping arrive with any sustained upright activity. For patients in Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Aventura, and Fort Lauderdale facing these limitations, the Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol is one option among the non-surgical care approaches that focus on the inflammatory and soft tissue components associated with the condition.
Spinal stenosis surgery carries real risks in an older population, including prolonged recovery, adjacent segment disease, and persistent post-surgical pain that affects a meaningful minority. For patients who have not explored non-surgical options, proceeding to a laminectomy without a comprehensive conservative evaluation is a decision made without complete information.
At Hollywood Laser Pain Center, I have treated lumbar stenosis patients in Hollywood, Florida, for more than 27 years. This includes the significant retirement population of Broward County’s coastal communities, for whom walking ability and functional independence are central to their quality of life.
What Is Spinal Stenosis and What Is Actually Causing the Symptoms?
Lumbar spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal or the intervertebral foramina through which nerve roots exit the spine. The narrowing develops through a degenerative cascade. Disc height loss increases stress on facet joints and causes them to enlarge through arthritic bone formation. The ligamentum flavum thickens and buckles inward. Osteophytes form at vertebral margins. When the canal diameter decreases beyond the tolerance of the neural contents, neurogenic claudication develops, marked by leg pain, heaviness, cramping, and weakness with walking that is relieved by sitting or leaning forward.
Published research estimates that symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis affects approximately 11 percent of the general population, with prevalence increasing sharply after age 60.
What Is the Key Clinical Distinction Between Structural and Functional Stenosis?
An important clinical distinction is that the degree of canal narrowing on imaging does not reliably predict symptom severity. Research in the spinal medicine literature demonstrates significant variation. Some patients with severe canal narrowing on MRI report minimal symptoms, while others with moderate narrowing experience significant neurogenic claudication. This variability is associated with functional contributions, including local inflammation around compressed neural tissue and soft tissue tension that adds to the structural narrowing.
These functional factors are the focus areas of the Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol. The structural narrowing itself cannot be reversed without surgery, but the protocol’s approach is designed around the inflammatory and soft tissue components of the condition.
What Does the Regenerative Medical Laser™ Protocol Do for Stenosis Symptoms?
The Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol delivers medical-grade near-infrared laser energy to the stenotic spinal segments. The protocol is built around the principles of photobiomodulation, which research has explored as a tool in the management of chronic spinal conditions. Published studies on photobiomodulation in chronic pain populations have reported a range of findings on its role in pain and functional outcomes.
What Does the Graston Technique Add for Stenosis Patients?
The paraspinal soft tissue restrictions and hip flexor tightness that develop in stenosis patients, from their compensatory forward-flexed walking posture and reduced lumbar mobility, can add mechanical loading to an already compromised spinal canal. Graston Technique applied to the paraspinal musculature and hip flexors is used in the protocol as part of the approach to these secondary mechanical factors and to support soft tissue mobility in the surrounding structures.
Hollywood Laser Pain Center is located at 2607 Polk Street, Hollywood FL 33020 and can be reached at 954-925-7333. Additional information about Dr. Mark’s practice is available at Hollywood Laser Pain Center, with educational content from the ReliefNow Nation channel.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Bruce Mark, DC | Hollywood Laser Pain Center | 2607 Polk Street, Hollywood FL 33020 | 954-925-7333
Dr. Mark earned his Doctor of Chiropractic from Logan College of Chiropractic with honors and has practiced for more than 27 years in Hollywood, Florida. He holds certifications in Graston Technique and acupuncture, is a former collegiate football player at Wake Forest University, and practices at Broward Medical and Rehab. He is a provider in the national ReliefNow® network.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. The effectiveness of treatments may vary depending on individual circumstances. Consult a qualified healthcare professional to discuss your specific medical needs and treatment options.
