Diagnosis of Spinal cord stenosis

Spinal X-ray
This diagnostic tool isn't that helpful in making the right diagnosis but it can help in ruling out problems that cause similar symptoms, including a fracture, bone tumor or inherited defect.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
This is probably the best possible imaging test for diagnosing spinal stenosis. Instead of X-rays, an MRI uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to produce cross-sectional images of your back.   

Computerized tomography (CT) scan
Similarly to X-ray- this test uses a narrow beam of radiation to produce detailed, cross-sectional images of body.

CT myelogram
This may be the most sensitive test for detecting spinal stenosis, but it poses more risks than either MRI or CT.
A contrast substance is injected in the spinal column and while the substance circulates around it and the spinal nerves an imaging is being done!   

Bone scan
In this test, a small amount of a radioactive material is injected into vein in patient’s arm. The material emits waves of radiation that are detected by a gamma camera. 

Treatment

Treatments for spinal stenosis could be divided into two big groups. One is surgical and the other is non-surgical methods.

Non-surgical methods

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Aspirin®, naproxen (Naprosyn®), ibuprofen (Motrin®, Nuprin®, Advil®), or Indomethacin (Indocin®), to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
• Analgesics, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®), to relieve pain.
• Corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation and treat acute pain that radiates to the hips or down a leg.
• Anesthetic injections to temporarily relieve pain.
• Restricted activity
• Prescribed exercises and physical therapy   
• A lumbar brace or corset to provide some support and help the patient regain mobility

Surgical solutions

Decompressive laminectomy

This procedure is in most cases the best option. In this procedure, surgeon removes the back part of the bone over the spinal canal to create more space for the nerves and to allow access to bone spurs or ruptured disks that may also be removed. There are some risks such as infection, a tear in the membrane that covers the spinal cord, bleeding, and a blood clot in a leg vein.

Laminotomy

In this procedure, a portion of the lamina is removed to relieve pressure or to allow access to a disk or bone spur that's pressing on a nerve. 

Fusion

This method is used to permanently connect two or more vertebral bones in spine.