6 Best Spinal Stenosis Treatment Options
Spinal stenosis refers to abnormal narrowing of a bone channel related to the spinal cords or nerves. Some people have a perfect form, but a lot of people become vulnerable to spinal stenosis related discomforts due to a degenerative cascade. A good number of people may not experience any narrowing effects while many will have to deal with radiating pain because of the aging process. In addition to pain, patients experience numbness and weakness.
What are the most popular spinal stenosis treatment options?
Modification of the activities
Certain activities worsen the symptoms of spinal stenosis. That is why doctors recommend eliminating activities that aggravate the condition of the spine.
Performing the right exercises
Every spinal stenosis treatment program includes exercise and physical therapy and this aspect suggests that how effective exercises are.
Physiotherapy offers excellent results
Physiotherapy is one of the best spinal stenosis treatment options. Several physicals recommend a supervised physical therapy program. After having attended physical therapy sessions under the supervision of an expert, people can shift to their own exercise program. Physiotherapy teaches you how to begin slowly and gradually build strength and tolerance. You can reduce pain, create a personalized workout program and learn how to protect the joint and bone structure with the help of a physiotherapist. These professionals make use of different methods including electrical muscle stimulation, applying icepack and the utilization of ultrasound to offer relief from pain. The McKenzie method is a popular one among many physiotherapists, and dynamic lumbar stabilization is another method commonly used in physiotherapy. It is advisable to consult an experienced physiotherapist because incorrect practices can aggravate the condition easily.
Medications provide instant relief
If you want to get instant relief from pain associated with spinal stenosis, anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and aspirin can be taken. When you have to deal with severe episodes of pain, doctors recommend a short-term course of narcotic medication. Nerve desensitizing medications offer good benefits and doctors also advocate the use of muscle relaxers. Anti-depressant medications are advised to alleviate pain in certain cases. Many people are worried about the side effects associated with medications, and you must consult with your doctor before start taking any medication.
Epidural injections bring temporary relief
A cortisone injection can be taken in the area outside the epidural space. This spinal stenosis treatment provides a temporary relief from the symptoms. The long-term use of these types of injections is always questionable. As far as osteoporosis-related fractures are concerned, corticosteroid injections are not at all a good option. Anyhow, this option is hugely popular, and a lot of physicians recommend epidural injections to their patients.
Surgery is the final and the most rewarding option
Patients, who are dealing with advanced claudication, have to undergo a decompression surgery to address the spinal stenosis symptoms. This surgery is one of the best spinal stenosis treatments. To make the surgery effective, correct diagnosis is needed. Doctors make use of imaging studies to find out the narrowing areas, and this approach brings excellent results. Various types of surgical methods used to address spinal stenosis and they include Laminectomy, Anterior Cervical Discectomy/Corpectomy, Interspinous Process Devices and Facet Replacement or Total Element Replacement. Various research studies show that spinal stenosis surgery is the most rewarding option and most patients regain their mobility and activity level after the surgery. It has been found out that several patients have been enjoying enhanced walking tolerance after the surgery.
These are the most common and effective spinal stenosis treatment options available. You can also find alternative options like chiropractic treatment, acupuncture, and massage therapy.