Non-Surgical Treatments of Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a condition in which there is too much pressure on the nerves surrounding the spinal cord. The pressure on the nerves may be caused by a breakdown of the spine associated with arthritis, aging or degenerative disk disease. Stenosis occurs most frequently in Americans 60 years of age and over and has symptoms that range from a mild or persistent ache in the lower back and buttocks to tingling and radiating pain in the lower extremities.

Non-Surgical Cures for Stenosis

• Non-surgical treatment for stenosis is the most common treatment. Often, the treatment involves resting and refraining from certain activities. Physical therapy is often recommended and involves exercises to strengthen the back and leg muscles and to relieve pressure on the spine. Patients may also be advised to wear a back brace.

Alternative Cures for Spinal Stenosis

• Many patients chose to use alternative therapies to manage and treat spinal stenosis and the associated symptoms. There are many alternative therapies available. You could visit a chiropractor to have the spine adjusted and realigned to remove pressure on the nerve. Acupuncture places needles at pressure points to relieve pain. TENS machine therapy involves administering small electrical impulses to electrodes attached to the body to interrupt the pain mechanisms from the nerves. Magnet therapy involves attaching magnets to the body to alter the bodies electromagnetic energy.

Drug Therapy

• Patients may wish to use drug therapy to manage pain associated with spinal stenosis. Doctors generally recommend trying to manage pain with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAID's). These medications, like Tylenol, are sold over the counter. In some cases, these medications are unable to relieve pain associated with spinal stenosis. In those situations, narcotic analgesics or epidural steroid injections may be recommended.