Spinal Stenosis Treatment: Facts You Should Know Spinal stenosis is a common condition that occurs when the small spinal canal, which contains the nerve roots and spinal cord, becomes compressed or narrow. This causes a "pinching" of the spinal cord and nerve roots, which leads to pain, cramping, weakness or numbness. Depending on where the narrowing takes place, you may feel these symptoms in the lower back and legs, neck, shoulder or arms. Symptoms may worsen with prolonged standing or walking. Degenerative changes related to aging, such as osteoarthritis, are the main cause of spinal stenosis.
Spinal stenosis treatment is decided on severity of the disease. It is treated first with pain relieving medications and physical therapy. Surgery may be recommended if spinal stenosis worsens or if symptoms are severe. Non-surgical treatments of lumbar spinal stenosis may include anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and spinal injections. Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (commonly called NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen or naproxen, may also relieve pain.
In addition, a rheumatologist may prescribe other medications to help with pain or muscle spasm. Doing regular exercise can also reduce the pain to some extent. This will improve your balance, ability to walk, bend and move about, as well as control pain. A physical therapist can show you which exercises are right for you. Once you understand why you are having pain, it is easy how a simple bag of ice can alleviate 85% of it.
Surgery may be advised for patients whose pain cannot be relieved by non-surgical treatment methods. The aim of the surgery is to open up the bony spinal canal to improve available space for the nerves. These treatments do not correct the spinal canal narrowing but can provide pain control and improved life function. Hence, treatments will improve your flexibility to help keep your spinal column moving fluidly, strengthen the muscles surrounding your spine to act as a buffer from future pain.