I have spinal stenosis of L4-5. In the past I underwent physical therapy, epidural injections, nerve root injections and a Laminectomy/discodectomy/removal of a synovial cyst. All only gave minimum relief from sciaticia down both legs, and pain in lower back. In the X-Stop Procedure a titatium "spacer" is inserted to hold open vertabrea which impinge on the nerve causing sciaticia or back pain. It is minimally invasive, normally only a couple inch incision. You can find more information on line. I am 4 days out from surgery and the down to one Vicodan a day, at night. Tylenol handles the rest of the pain. This is a new procedure, FDA approved for past 2-years. You may have to do some looking around for a doctor trained in the surgery. I was fortunate that my pain management doctor recommended one here locally, in St. Louis. He is a General & Endovascular Neurosurgeon. I will continue to let you know how it goes as time goes on.