How to Treat Spinal Stenosis in the Very Elderly

According to the Mayo Clinic, spinal stenosis is marked by a narrowing of the spinal canal through which the spinal cord passes. It is most common in the upper and lower back. This narrowing can cause a number of symptoms including nerve pain, numbness, weakness, loss of sensation and bladder and bowel problems. It usually occurs after age 50. If you are very elderly, your doctor will want to try conservative treatments first before resorting to surgery. Depending on your age and overall health, surgery may not be an option at all. In this instance, your doctor can guide you on how to best manage the condition.

Instructions

• 1

  Work with a physical therapist. He can show you exercises that will improve your strength, flexibility and stability of your spine. He will design a treatment plan appropriate for your age and ability. If he gives you a home treatment plan, you must do your best to follow it to get optimum results.

• 2

  Talk to your doctor about pain relief. Several different medications can treat the pain associated with spinal stenosis. He might recommend over-the-counter NSAIDs like Motrin or Advil, or he may prescribe stronger medications. Steroid injections can quickly treat severe pain, but serious side effects preclude their use as a long-term treatment option.

• 3

  Talk to your doctor about surgical repair for severe impairment if you are deemed healthy enough to undergo surgery. Various surgical procedures alleviate pressure on the spine and surrounding nerves. It should be noted that these procedures can cause a significant amount of pain afterwards. It can take months to recover fully and long-term physical therapy is usually necessary. It is also possible that the problem will present itself again, in as little as a few years after surgical correction.

• 4

  Consider getting a back brace or corset if you have weak abdominal muscles, or have signs of degeneration in more than one area of the spine. Note that some experts are beginning to question the benefits of long-term regular use of back braces in some situations, fearing a resulting loss in tone of the abdominal muscles. Check with your orthopaedist or physical therapist for further guidance.