How to treat neuralgia caused by thickening of the yellow ligament and spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis caused by thickening of the yellow ligament leads to nerve pain, which can be relieved by conservative treatment, drug intervention or surgical treatment. The specific choice should be determined according to the severity of the disease and personal circumstances, and completed under the guidance of a specialist.

1 Etiology analysis and conservative treatment

Thickening of the yellow ligament is a common degenerative change in spinal diseases, which is mostly caused by aging, chronic strain or long-term poor posture. It can cause spinal stenosis, thereby compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots, and causing symptoms such as nerve pain, numbness and even lower limb weakness. If the condition is mild, you can first try conservative treatment, such as:

Physical therapy: including heat, traction and low-frequency electrical stimulation, which can relieve local inflammation, improve blood circulation and relieve pain.

Posture adjustment and exercise: Through appropriate core muscle training and stretching of the waist and back, the mechanical state of the spinal canal can be improved and nerve compression can be relieved.

Wear a brace: Use a lumbar brace appropriately to reduce the load-bearing pressure on the spinal canal and avoid further deterioration.

2. Drug treatment

When pain is severe, medications are key to relief and include the following:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): such as ibuprofen or celecoxib, are used to control pain caused by inflammation.

Neuromodulatory drugs: such as gabapentin or pregabalin, to help improve neuropathic pain.

Local injections: Your doctor may use a corticosteroid injection around the spinal canal to quickly reduce inflammation and pressure around the nerve.

3. Surgical treatment

If the condition progresses to the point where conservative treatment is ineffective or the symptoms seriously affect daily life, surgery can be considered. Common surgical methods include:

Ligamentum flavum resection: Resection of the thickened ligamentum flavum directly relieves pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.

Decompression surgery: such as laminectomy, which expands the spinal canal space, can effectively relieve the neurological symptoms caused by compression.

Fusion and fixation: When necessary, your doctor may recommend fusion surgery to stabilize the spine and prevent further degeneration.

4 Daily management suggestions

Patients should also pay attention to maintaining moderate movements in their daily lives and avoid maintaining a fixed position for long periods of time. They can also choose health supplements that nourish the nerves, such as vitamin B, and combine them with high-calcium and high-protein foods in their diet to enhance bone health.

For nerve pain caused by spinal stenosis due to thickening of the yellow ligament, conservative and drug treatments should be used to relieve symptoms first. If there is no obvious effect, surgery should be considered. Seeking medical treatment as soon as possible to evaluate the condition and adhere to standardized treatment are the key to improving symptoms and improving quality of life.