Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal which can put pressure on the spinal cord that travels through the canal. This article will discuss lumbar spinal stenosis and how non-operative chiropractic treatment may help.
Lumbar spinal stenosis tends to cause lower back pain, numbness into one or both legs and can refer pain into the hips. It is usually caused by age-related wear and tear causing osteoarthritic bone and spur buildup. It typically occurs during middle age or older. Lumbar spinal stenosis can be quite debilitating, affecting one’s sleep, ability to walk and can impair one’s ability to perform home and work chores.
It should be said that if a person has impaired bladder or bowel control it is best to immediately go to an emergency room and have a neurological examination.
As a practicing chiropractor of 38 years, I’ve had numerous patients tell me that they have had an MRI that diagnosed lumbar spinal stenosis and their doctor told them that there’s nothing, short of back surgery, that can be done for it. Yet, I have many patients with the condition that have little or no pain.
While lower back surgery can be a treatment option for lumbar spinal stenosis it is one that most patients are hesitant to undertake. Certainly conservative, non-operative therapy is preferred for this condition.
Chiropractic evaluation will check the patient’s spinal and pelvic joint alignment. If there is misalignment of the spine or pelvis it can create pain in the lower back. If there is also lumbar spinal stenosis a healthcare practitioner, who is not a Doctor of Chiropractic, may have confusion as to what is causing the patient’s pain and inappropriately decide that the stenosis, not misalignments, is the source of the pain.
Chiropractors can perform pelvic and spinal adjustments to bring about relief for lower back pain. Chiropractors are the preeminent specialists, in the health care field, to provide and perform gentle, safe, effective realignment of malpositioned spinal vertebrae and pelvic joints.
A chiropractor may also work with the soft tissue areas of the area including fascia, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Soft tissue techniques involving pressure point therapy and electrical muscle stimulation can release tension and stress of these areas of the body. Using cold packs appropriately, to reduce inflammation is also frequently helpful to enhance healing and pain relief.
Today’s modern practice of chiropractic allows for people experiencing lumbar spinal stenosis to gain pain relief for this very debilitating and uncomfortable condition.
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Dr. James Schofield 