Tips for Dealing with Spinal Stenosis

The spinal cord’s nerves are sensitive and transmit information between the brain and all the body organs. Therefore, the spine has spaces around the discs, ensuring the nerves function well without compression. Unfortunately, you may develop spinal stenosis, which is attributed to the narrowing of the space around the spinal discs. Roswell spinal stenosis can cause chronic neck, spinal and lower back pain due to nerve pinching. The narrowing occurs due to herniated discs, the thickening of ligaments, and trauma to the spine and bone spurs. These are tips to deal with spinal stenosis.

Get the Right Diagnosis and Treatments

Chronic spinal and lower back pain does not always occur due to spinal stenosis. Therefore, getting the right diagnosis from your doctor’s office leads to better management of the condition. It is easy to overlook chronic back pain. You will undergo physical examinations and imaging tests like X-rays and MRI scans which provide a detailed picture of the spinal area. Your doctor will provide treatments for chronic pain and recommend lifestyle changes to alleviate the compression of the nerves. Anti-inflammation epidural injections may alleviate the pain temporarily, making it easy to engage in everyday activities.

Physical Therapy for Spinal Stenosis

You can overcome spinal stenosis stress and pain through exercises as exercises can align the backbone. You can start with stretching exercises that reduce muscle spasms, alleviate chronic pain and align the spine. You may start walking for 30 minutes daily or swimming in a pool. Buoyancy increases the range of motion and improves flexibility and balance enabling a patient to move better. You can enjoy a wide range of exercises when undertaking physical therapy sessions.

The exercises should not aggravate spinal stenosis symptoms; you see a doctor if you feel more pain after the exercises. Your doctor will recommend braces if the exercises do not improve your spinal health. You can incorporate hands-on massage on the spinal area to align the spine, but you should be careful to choose an experienced therapist who understands your condition.

Surgery for Spinal Stenosis

You will require surgery for spinal stenosis in the long run as there is no treatment, but surgery should be the last resort. Your doctor should administer anti-inflammatory drugs and recommend different therapies to align the spine before opting for surgery. You can choose surgical procedures such as laminectomy, discectomy, and spinal fusion based on your health condition. The surgeon will trim bone spurs, ligaments, and muscles pressing the nerves. They may recommend fusing two bones to avoid movements that affect the nerves.

Spinal fusion results in chronic back pain, which affects your life, and it is better to seek medical help to deal with the diction. The doctor will conduct a physical and imaging exam to determine the right treatment course to alleviate the pain. They may recommend exercises and lifestyle changes that alleviate the pressure on the nerves. You will undergo surgery for spinal stenosis in the long run if the condition does not improve.