Spinal Stenosis Specialist

What Is Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is a condition wherein the spaces between the vertebrae along the spine become narrowed, placing pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. This can be caused by age, as connective tissues thicken or spurs develop.

It can also be a hereditary condition or can result from spinal instability, injury, and accident trauma. Tumors can also create inflammation. Most often, spinal stenosis occurs in the lumbar, or lower back, region, causing pain in that region as well as the legs.

What Are Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis?

The symptoms of spinal stenosis often involve patients experiencing pain in the back and extremities. This pain can range from minor, dull and throbbing to chronic, severe and sharp, depending on the severity of the condition. In addition, the pressure on the nerves can create major problems with coordination, power and feeling throughout the body. This can result in any or all of the following:

• Clumsiness
• Lack of balance
• Frequent falling
• Pain and difficulty with mobility
• Hot, cold, tingling, and numbness

How Is Chiropractic Used to Treat Spinal Stenosis?

Chiropractic can often be used as a remedy for symptoms of spinal stenosis and to encourage the body’s healing processes. The first step in treating this condition is to properly diagnose it, which is usually done via CT scan, MRI, or other forms of radiography or electromyography scanning. When a patient first visits a chiropractor after diagnosis, they will work together to develop an individualized whole-body approach to treatment.

This will involve spinal adjustments to balance out the system and alleviate pressure on the nerves. This will help to restore movement and relieve pain and stiffness. Patients will then undertake a treatment plan which could include diet, physical therapy or specific exercises designed to help restore feeling, flexibility, and motion.