The goal of all lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) treatment is to relieve your pain and to help you regain a satisfactory quality of life. Once you’ve been diagnosed with LSS, you and your doctor should be working together to make sure your therapy achieves that goal.

The experience of pain is very personal. Your doctor relies on you to report how well or how poorly your current therapy is working to satisfy your needs. If your LSS symptoms are no longer relieved by nonsurgical therapy, including physical therapy, pain medications, and/or epidural injections, you may want to talk to your doctor about the X-STOP Spacer.

Step 1

To possibly be eligible for the X-STOP Spacer, you must be able to answer yes to all four of the following statements:

• I am 50 years of age or older.
• I have been diagnosed with and suffer from the symptoms of LSS.
• My pain is relieved when I sit down or lean forward.
• I have been in treatment for LSS for at least 6 months.

Step 2

Make an appointment with a spine specialist. Your health insurance may require you to see your primary care doctor, for a referral to a spine specialist. In either case, you will want to discuss how your LSS treatment needs have changed—and your interest in the X-STOP Spacer.

To help you get the most from your appointment—and to make sure you get the answers you need to take the next step—we have provided two lists of questions: one for your primary care doctor and one for a spine specialist. Remember, being an active participant in your healthcare will help you get the best possible treatment.

Questions for your primary care doctor

• What more can I do to relieve my back and leg pain?
• Are there other nonsurgical treatments that could help me?
• Can you help me understand lumbar spinal stenosis?
• Can you explain why I get relief when I bend forward or sit down?
• Have you heard about the X-STOP Spacer?
• Can you refer me to a spine specialist who uses the X-STOP Spacer?

Information for your doctor about the X-STOP Spacer

Your primary care doctor may have questions about the X-STOP Spacer. The information in this downloadable document (PDF) will help answer those questions so you can have a more informed discussion about your treatment options. Download, print, and take this information with you to your office appointment.

Questions for a spine specialist

General

• What more can I do to relieve my back and leg pain?
• Are there other nonsurgical treatments that could help me?
• Can you help me understand the term neurogenic intermittent claudication?

About the X-STOP Spacer

• What is the X-STOP Spacer?
• How does it work?
• Where would it be implanted?
• Is it safe?
• Will it change the anatomy of my spine?
• How does the X-STOP Spacer differ from major spine surgeries?
• Can I get an X-STOP Spacer if I have other medical conditions?
• Do you think it could be right for me?
• Is the X-STOP Spacer procedure covered by my health insurance?

About the surgeon’s experience

• What is your experience with the X-STOP Spacer?
• Has it been effective for your patients?
• Can I talk with one of your patients about their experience with the X-STOP Spacer?