Reduce Pain. Improve Mobility. Get Back to Life.
At Midwest Pain & Wellness, we treat common spinal conditions—including spinal stenosis and degenerative disease/arthritis—across the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), and lumbar (low back) regions. We emphasize opioid-free, evidence-based, minimally invasive care to help you move, sleep, and function again.
What These Conditions Are (In Plain English)
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Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal or nerve root openings that puts pressure on the spinal cord or nerves—often from age-related arthritis/“wear-and-tear.” Symptoms can include pain, tingling, numbness, weakness, and in the low back, difficulty walking that eases when bending forward (neurogenic claudication).
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Degenerative spine disease (e.g., degenerative disc disease, cervical spondylosis) involves discs drying/shrinking and joints developing arthritis/bone spurs over time, which can irritate nearby nerves and cause neck or back pain with possible arm/leg symptoms.
Common contributors: disc bulges/hernia, facet joint arthritis, thickened ligaments, and small slips between vertebrae (spondylolisthesis). These changes are most often age-related.
Most-Seen Symptoms (By Region)
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Cervical (neck): neck pain/stiffness, arm pain/numbness/weakness; severe cases can involve spinal cord compression symptoms.
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Thoracic (mid-back): mid-back pain and stiffness; thoracic stenosis is less common but can occur.
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Lumbar (low back): low-back pain, leg pain/numbness/weakness, and neurogenic claudication—leg symptoms with standing/walking that improve with sitting or leaning forward.
How We Help (3-Step Process)
1) Assess – Focused history and exam; review prior studies and order imaging judiciously to confirm the pain source and rule out red flags.
2) Recommend – A written plan starting with conservative care (activity modification, targeted physical therapy, non-opioid medications when appropriate). If symptoms persist or are moderate-to-severe, we discuss interventional options. procedures tailored to your diagnosis:
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Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) to calm nerve inflammation in radicular pain or stenosis.
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Facet-mediated pain pathway: diagnostic medial branch blocks followed by radiofrequency ablation (RFA)/rhizotomy for longer-lasting relief when blocks are positive.
We continue rehab and self-care strategies to preserve gains and reduce flare-ups.
Treatments We Offer (What to Expect)
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Epidural Steroid Injections: Anti-inflammatory medicine placed in the epidural space around irritated nerves; often used for disc herniation or stenosis-related leg pain. Relief can be temporary but meaningful, and injections may be part of a broader plan with PT.
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Radiofrequency Ablation / Rhizotomy (for Facet Arthritis): If two targeted test blocks reduce your typical pain, RFA uses heat to disrupt small medial branch nerves that carry pain from arthritic facet joints. Relief can last months and sometimes longer, and the procedure can be repeated if pain returns.
Why Midwest Pain & Wellness
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Opioid-free, interventional philosophy with minimally invasive options and coordinated rehab.
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Specialist-led care (double board-certified pain management leadership) and collaborative communication with your other providers.
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Easy access in Chicago Ridge: 10258 Southwest Hwy, Suite B, Chicago Ridge, IL 60415 • 708-571-3669.
Spinal Stenosis FAQ's
When is surgery considered?
Mostly age-related arthritis in the spine (bone spurs, thickened ligaments, facet joint overgrowth) and disc changes that narrow the canal/foramina and irritate nerves.
Do injections replace physical therapy?
No. Injections can reduce pain so you can move and rehabilitate more effectively; we pair procedures with targeted exercise to maintain gains.
What is radiofrequency ablation (RFA)? Is it the same as a rhizotomy?
RFA uses radio waves to heat and disrupt small pain-carrying nerves from arthritic facet joints; radiofrequency rhizotomy is a commonly used term for the same approach. It’s typically offered after positive diagnostic medial branch blocks.
What symptoms should make me call?
Neck or back pain plus radiating arm/leg pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness—and in lumbar stenosis, leg fatigue/pain with walking that eases when you sit or bend forward.
What causes spinal stenosis?
We perform a focused exam, review prior records/imaging (or order new studies if needed), and create a written plan: conservative care first, with targeted interventional options as appropriate. You’ll leave understanding your diagnosis, next steps, and return-to-work guidance.