Spinal Cyst

What Is A Spinal Cyst?

A cyst is a fluid-filled sac that can develop in the spine as a result of degeneration. There are several different types of cysts that may develop within the spinal cord, although synovial cysts are most common. Synovial cysts develop within the facet joints as cartilage wears away and excess fluid is produced within the joint. The excess fluid is retained within synovium of the joint and forms a cyst. Other types of spinal cysts include arachnoid cysts, tarlov cysts, extramedullary cysts and many more.

  • Arachnoid cysts
  • Tarlov cysts
  • Extramedullary cysts

Spinal Stenosis

As the cyst progresses and becomes more severe, it may cause pain in the back that travels down the legs as well, and can also lead to spinal stenosis or other painful and serious conditions. Spinal stenosis is most often present in the lower back and the neck. The symptoms can worsen over time if not properly treated.

Symptoms of Spinal Cysts

Patients with a spinal cyst may not experience any symptoms if the cyst remains small and stable. However, if it progresses, patients may experience pain, cramping and numbness. Spinal cysts tend to cause pain in certain positions, such as while standing or remaining still for prolonged periods of time. Many patients can reduce the severity of their symptoms by frequently changing positions or by adjusting their activities to remain in a seated position more often.

  • Back pain
  • Cramping
  • Numbness

Treatment of Spinal Cysts

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Cysts that do not cause symptoms and do not seem to be growing at a rapid rate may not require any treatment other than regular monitoring of the condition. Patients that experience pain from their cyst may benefit from facet or epidural steroid injections that decrease inflammation and temporarily relieve pain. In some cases, the cyst may be joined through the same needle used for facet injections.

Spinal Cyst Surgery

Cysts that cause significant pain may require surgery to effectively remove the cyst and prevent serious complications from occurring. Surgery to treat spinal cysts most commonly involves decompression with or without spine fusion surgery. This involves removing the cyst and then fusing the joint together to prevent the cyst from regenerating. Surgery is usually reserved for patients who wish to participate in physical activities with less pain.

Dr. Lipani Princeton New Jersey

At Princeton Neurological Surgery, Dr. Lipani is a board certified fellowship trained spine surgeon in New Jersey who performs minimally invasive spine surgery as well as complex spinal procedures. Dr. Lipani is a specialist in the treatment for spinal cyst and many other spinal conditions such as spinal stenosis, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, low back pain, neck pain, spinal tumors, spinal cancer and more. Dr. Lipani treats patients from around the world, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey including locally from Princeton, New Brunswick, Hopewell, Pennington and communities throughout Somerset, Middlesex, Ocean, Burlington, Monmouth, Morris and Mercer Counties for spinal cyst.

Dr. Lipani offers image guided spine surgery approaches for spinal cyst treatment, tailored to the needs of each patient. For state-of-the-art spinal cyst treatment, call or email us to schedule a consultation at our offices in Hamilton, Bridgewater, or Morristown, New Jersey. He performs spinal surgeries correcting spinal cysts in hospitals around New Jersey. Because he has over 15 years of experience, Dr. Lipani knows how to communicate with his patients and ensure they receive the correct spinal surgery option for them.

Schedule A Consultation

If you suffer from a spinal cyst, Dr. Lipani may offer the best treatment for you. Call our New Jersey office at (609) 890-3400 to schedule a consultation at Princeton Neurological Surgery.

If you would like more information about our services or to schedule an appointment, feel free to fill out our convenient contact form or call us directly at (609) 890-3400.

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