Heated and cold compresses: A heat compress or a hot shower will help to loosen up muscles, while cool compresses alleviate inflammation. Both can be used as needed in the affected areas. Over-the-counter medications: Pain medications can provide some temporary relief of discomfort, pain and inflammation.
Activities that involve jumping, such as jumping rope, should be avoided with spinal stenosis. When you jump, the spine quickly compresses and decompresses, potentially leading to added pain. Additionally, your back muscles tighten when you jump to protect the spine.
Stop High Impact Exercise
High-impact exercise involves running, jumping, and climbing. These activities create repeated impacts on the spine, which can worsen pain. Even prolonged walks should be avoided because they can cause muscle fatigue, which can increase the strain on your lumbar spine.
Flare ups may be caused by muscle spasms, which can be caused by bending or twisting suddenly.
In spinal stenosis, people typically experience less pain with leaning forward, and especially with sitting. Studies of the lumbar spine show that leaning forward can increase the space available for the nerves. Pain is usually made worse by standing up straight and walking.
Weill Cornell Medicine Pain Management offers a new technology to treat spinal stenosis and minimize the painful symptoms. Vertiflex superion is a device that is implanted into the area of the spine causing pain and relieves pressure on the affected nerves.
As a result, climbing stairs reduces the amount of space in the spinal canal. This temporarily exacerbates the effects of spinal stenosis, potentially leading to worsened pain and other symptoms. If you've been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, it's wise to keep climbing stairs to a minimum.
When sitting, avoid leaning forward, make sure there is proper lumbar support for the inward curve of the low back, and keep both feet flat on the ground.
Laminectomy. This surgery removes the back part (lamina) of the affected spinal bone. This eases pressure on the nerves by making more space around them. In some cases, that bone may need to be linked to nearby spinal bones with metal hardware and a bone graft.
Many over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen work well, but there are prescription medications as well, such as Voltaren (diclofenac) and Naproxin (naproxen).
Water keeps the spinal discs full of fluid so they can properly cushion the spine during movement. Water prevents the surrounding muscles from developing lactic acid, which can cause inflammation and lead to nerve compression.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, water loss causes discs to collapse between vertebrae resulting in injury. Injuries like spinal stenosis, degenerative disc, and herniated disc can arise from a core of dehydrated discs within vertebrae.
The two main surgical procedures to treat lumbar spinal stenosis are laminectomy and spinal fusion. Laminectomy: This procedure involves removal of the bone, bone spurs, and ligaments that compress the nerves. Spinal fusion: In this procedure, two or more vertebrae are permanently fused together.
Using a topical pain reliever (one that is applied directly to the skin) is another popular treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis. These creams or gels relieve pain through ingredients like salicylate, capsaicin, and menthol and are sold under brand names such as Bengay, Aspercreme, and Icy Hot.
Acupuncture has been a staple of Eastern medicine for thousands of years. Recent evidence has shown that benefits for spinal stenosis are strong.
Spinal Stenosis
With this condition, it may be preferable to sleep on the sides with the knees curled up (in the fetal position). This helps relieve pressure on the nerve root. Sleeping in a reclining chair or an adjustable bed that allows the head and knees to remain elevated can also relieve pressure on the nerve.
Standing in one position, such as in line at a checkout will also make their symptoms worse. Some people also develop numbness or tingling in their legs. Lying down or bending backwards also can make their symptoms worse.
Spinal stenosis symptoms tend to worsen the more you walk without treating it since the leading cause is a contraction of the spinal cord, which irritates the leg nerves.
Treatments for back pain caused by spinal stenosis include: Medicines to help relieve back pain. A type of talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy to help you better understand your pain and teach you how to manage back pain.
Chiropractic care can help reduce the pressure on the nerves while restoring your range of motion and reducing pain levels due to spinal stenosis. Chiropractic care is a proven, safe and effective treatment option for those who are searching for an alternative and natural method to treat spinal stenosis.
With severe spinal stenosis, the spinal canal has narrowed to a considerable degree. As a result, patients with the severe form of this condition may experience a significant loss of function, potentially including bladder and/or bowel function.