Alternative Treatments for Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a medical term that describes the narrowing of the spinal cord. When the spinal cord narrows, it can lead to pinched nerves. These pinched nerves can cause symptoms including chronic pain in the buttocks and a loss of feeling in the lower extremities. Some patients report a decreased ability to engage in physical activity and/or a limp. The condition is diagnosed mainly in patients 60 years of age or older, and approximately 400,000 Americans are affected by the condition.

Symptoms

• Symptoms vary by person and can include a persistent dull or sharp ache in the lower back or buttocks. This pain or ache may be present when walking or engaging in other physical activity. The back pain may be accompanied by radiating pain in the legs or thighs, numbness in the legs or lower extremities, weakness and difficulty moving the lower body. Typically, the pain is not helped by painkillers but does lessen when you sit down.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosing spinal stenosis may be a multi-part process. Typically, a doctor will begin by taking your family history and medical history to try to identify other back problems that may be causing the pain. Generally, this is followed by a physical exam in which the physician assesses the extent of your symptoms, including your inability to move or reduced movement and the amount of pain you experience. Finally, an MRI, CAT scan, myelogram or bone scan may be required.

Treatment

• Spinal stenosis is typically treated initially through nonsurgical methods. These nonsurgical methods include physical therapy, restricted motion, rest, the use of support devices and painkillers. Drugs may be prescribed, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics or epidural steroid injections. The purpose of the drugs is generally to help with the pain, while the physical therapy and rest helps the stenosis heal.

Surgical Treatments

• Surgery is typically recommended if physical therapy, medication and support devices do not restore motion or quality of life. There are four surgeries performed to treat spinal stenosis: foraminotomy, laminotomy, laminectomy and spinal fusion.

Alternative Therapies

• Some patients may wish to try alternative medicine to treat their spiral stenosis before resorting to drugs or surgery. There are four recommended alternative therapies for spiral stenosis. These remedies are acupuncture or acupressure, chiropractic manipulation, craniosacral therapy or Swedish massage.

  Acupressure is a Chinese therapy which involves the use of pressure points to relieve pain. Chiropractic manipulation involves the realignment of the spine and/or ultrasound stimulation of nerves to reduce pain. Craniosacral therapy is the use of light touching to help rebalance the craniosacral system. Finally, Swedish massage, which involves light or deep tissue massage, can help alleviate pain.