Spinal stenosis is a painful condition that affects the back, hips and legs. It occurs when there is a narrowing of the passageways in the spine that your nerves travel through. This narrowing puts pressure on your nerves and can lead to pain, numbness and loss of muscle tone. While surgery may be necessary in severe cases, there are also nonsurgical options you may want to try first.
Medication
There are various medications that can help manage your symptoms. This can include oral meds and injections. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will help to decrease any inflammation that may be causing additional pressure on the nerves. Analgesics or pain medications, prescription or over the counter, may be necessary so that you can continue to work and exercise. Epidural steroid injections can also help, as the medication is injected directly into the painful area, which can reduce swelling and pressure.
Physical Therapy
Your physical therapist can use both modalities and movement education to help you control your disease. Ultrasound, estim, soft tissue massage, heat and ice can all be introduced to help reduce your pain and any inflammation. Once your pain is under control, your therapist will teach you appropriate exercises to help strengthen and stretch your back muscles. The right exercise program will take pressure off the back and help you to maintain flexibility and range of motion. You will also learn correct body mechanics when lifting, working at a computer and other everyday activities so you can avoid exacerbating your symptoms.
Exercise
After you are discharged from physical therapy, you will need to continue with an exercise program. According to the American College of Rheumatology, "Keeping the hip adductors and abductors, quadriceps and hamstrings from developing atrophy helps increase stability and the ability to walk." You may need a period of trial and error to find the exercises that make your symptoms better and to discover the ones that you must avoid. If land-based exercise is too painful, a water exercise class may help you to improve your strength and flexibility while taking pressure off your joints.
Chiropractic
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, "Chiropractic manipulation is generally safe and can help with some of the pain from lumbar stenosis." However, the academy cautions that you must use care if you have a herniated disk or osteoporosis. In this case adjustments can make your symptoms worse.
Braces
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases states that it may be helpful to use "a lumbar brace or corset to provide some support and help the patient regain mobility. This approach is sometimes used for patients with weak abdominal muscles or older patients with degeneration at several levels of the spine." Your doctor or physical therapist can help you to find the best brace and show you how to fit it and use it properly.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is another alternative therapy that may help to alleviate spinal stenosis symptoms. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases says, "Research has shown that low back pain is one area in which acupuncture has benefited some people." Talk to others in your area who have spinal stenosis to get recommendations.
