An Overview of Back Pain - Spinal Stenosis

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An Overview of Back Pain - Spinal Stenosis

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

With age, comes experience, wisdom, and a long list of health complications. No matter how healthy we are, once we hit 60, the ability to ward off every illness in the book becomes less feasible. As our bones weaken and the probability of accidents increase, back problems such as spinal stenosis turn into a reality for many.

Affecting primarily the lumbar and cervical areas of the spine, spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal (which is composed of nerves and the spinal cord itself), begins to compress. The narrowing per se does not cause extreme pain, it’s the pressed nerve endings that causes discomfort. For those who suffer from lumbar spinal stenosis, they tend to experience pain and/or numbness in their back and legs. Symptoms are usually more intense with cervical spinal stenosis. This pain can occur in their arms, legs and even cause imbalance.

Spinal stenosis targets many older victims, as it is a medical condition that derives from weak bones or illnesses such as osteoarthritis. As we age, the bones begin to lose its calcium component and the cushion that protects the area. As a result, it becomes more difficult to move quickly and walk great distances. While some are born with it, women who are over 50 tend to be primary targets.If you suffer from painful spinal stenosis, it is advisable that you consider all options available to you. Older patients are not likely to go with surgery as an option. However, there are plenty of beneficial and non-invasive treatments that could eliminate some of the pain.

Spinal decompression therapy, for example, is one treatment that is pain-free. It requires the patient to lay on a table hooked up to a harness and receive pressure to their spine. This pressure actually creates a vacuum effect, tugging the discs apart, allowing them to gain flexibility and stretch out. By decompressing this section, essential nutrients and blood supply re-enter allowing the spine to heal. As a result, the pain and muscle spasms are reduced, and it becomes easier to move again. In terms of recovery, those with spinal stenosis may only experience partial recovery which means pain is somehow alleviated, unlike those with herniated discs wherein full recovery is achievable. Even still, this makes a world of a difference. Most patients need to undergo 4-5 sessions per week for a minimum of twenty sessions.

In addition to spinal decompression therapy, those with spinal stenosis can also benefit from exercise. Your flexibility determines the treatment available to you — many would advise Pilates, Yoga or a physical therapy-centered treatment. Exercises that focus on your back pain are important in the healing process. If you are still experiencing pain and discomfort, you may ask your doctor and seek advice on medications. While it’s true that cortisone shots reduces muscle spasms, it does not qualify as a long-term treatment. Regardless of what you choose, there are many methods to tackle spinal stenosis. If we could reduce just some of the pain in our lives, living into our 100’s would certainly be a walk in the park.

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