Long-Term Strategies For Soothing Spinal Stenosis

Posted on: 25 September 2017

Spinal stenosis, a painful condition resulting from the narrowing of the vertebral canal, can severely limit your activities. Many people who decide to seek treatment for spinal stenosis wonder if they'll have to undergo surgery, but surgery is only one type of treatment. There are a range of more conservative treatments that may take longer to work but that can help you feel better without opening you up. Chances are your doctor will want to use a non-surgical method first anyway and leave surgery as a last resort, but in case he or she mentions surgery, here are some alternatives that you can ask about:

Specific Stretches

See if you can get a referral to a physical therapist who can work with you on stretching. There are stretches that have been used to combat stenosis, and the therapist can show you how to do these and monitor your progress. Don't try a generic stretching program on your own because you don't want to risk aggravating the pain by accident, and you don't want to create complications if you have a particularly severe case.

Stenosis-Friendly Exercises

In addition to stretching, there are exercises that are better for those with stenosis because the exercises allow you to lean forward, which often reduces the pain associated with your spine. Strengthening yourself in general may help you deal with the condition better. Swimming, riding a stationary bike (one that lets you lean forward), or walking on an inclined treadmill may all help. However, check about doing these with your doctor or the therapist first, again to reduce the chances of complications.

Try to Lose Weight

A side effect of exercising, but also a result that you want to aim for, is losing weight. If you're already at a good weight, this won't be an option, but if you are overweight, losing weight could reduce your pain. This needs to be done with a dietitian's supervision to ensure you're getting adequate nutrition, especially if you are exercising more now than you were before; a crash diet isn't going to help make you feel good even if you do lose weight.

Talk to your doctor and get a referral to a physical therapist (if your doctor isn't a spine specialist) and a dietitian and see how the non-surgical treatments work for you. If these three don't work, there are still others you can try before surgery. 

Check out a website like http://swfna.com for more information and assistance. 

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