5 Treatments For Spinal Stenosis: What You Need to Know
5 Effective Treatments for Spinal Stenosis
Do you suffer from spinal stenosis? If so, you know how uncomfortable and debilitating it can be. Fortunately, there are several treatments available that may help reduce your pain and improve your quality of life. In this article, we’ll discuss 5 treatments for spinal stenosis – including non-surgical options such as physiotherapy and exercise – that could potentially relieve your symptoms. We’ll also cover the risks associated with each treatment option so you can make an informed decision about which is best for you.
What Is Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spaces within the spine become narrowed due to age-related wear or injury. This narrowing puts pressure on nerves in the spine causing pain along with other symptoms such as tingling and numbness in arms or legs. It’s most common among people over 50 but anyone at any age may develop it depending on their lifestyle habits or medical history.
Treatment Options for Spinal Stenosis
There are several treatments available that may help reduce the pain and discomfort associated with spinal stenosis. Here is an overview of 5 treatment options:
1. Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a non-surgical option for treating spinal stenosis that focuses on improving strength, flexibility, and range of motion in affected areas. Your physiotherapist will create a personalized exercise plan tailored to your needs which can include stretching exercises as well as strengthening exercises targeting core muscles such as your abdominal muscles or back extensors. This type of treatment can also help improve posture which may further reduce your symptoms.
2. Exercise
Regular exercise – especially low impact activities like walking or swimming – can be beneficial for people suffering from spinal stenosis by helping to strengthen the surrounding muscles and maintain good posture. Core strengthening exercises are particularly important since they target the abdominal and lower back muscles which play an important role in supporting proper alignment while standing or walking.
3. Steroid Injections
Steroid injections can be used to reduce inflammation in the affected area and provide temporary relief from pain associated with spinal stenosis. These injections are typically administered directly into the affected area by a doctor or specialist and may also include an anesthetic to further relieve any discomfort. Although steroid injections can be effective, they should not be used as a long-term solution for managing spinal stenosis since repeated use of steroids may cause side effects such as weight gain or increased risk of infection.
4. Spinal Decompression Therapy
Spinal decompression therapy is another non-surgical treatment option that involves stretching out your spine in order to reduce pressure on nerves caused by narrowing spaces within it. This type of therapy is most effective when combined with other treatments like physiotherapy and exercise, but it can provide some short-term relief from symptoms associated with spinal stenosis. It’s important to note that although this type of treatment has been found safe for many people, there are potential risks involved that should be discussed with your doctor before you start a spinal decompression program.
5. Surgery
Surgery is usually only recommended for severe cases of spinal stenosis when other treatments have failed to provide adequate relief. Depending on the severity and location of your condition, surgery may involve removing fragments from the spine or widening spaces between vertebrae to reduce pressure on nerves. As with any type of surgery, there are risks associated including infection or nerve damage so it’s important to discuss these risks in detail with your doctor before deciding if this is the right treatment option for you .
Final Thoughts
Spinal stenosis can be a debilitating condition, but fortunately there are several treatments available that may help reduce your pain and improve your quality of life. Non-surgical options such as physiotherapy and exercise can often provide relief from symptoms associated with spinal stenosis. Steroid injections or spinal decompression may also be recommended depending on the severity of the condition. In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to alleviate pressure on nerves caused by narrowing spaces within the spine .
