How to Relieve Pain from Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis pain management can help to restore the patients’ range of motion and enable them to lead an independent life.

Spinal stenosis is a degenerative condition that occurs due to narrowing of the spinal and nerve root canals. The narrowing puts pressure on your nerves and spinal cord and can cause severe pain. Major causes for this condition include aging, any type of arthritis, heredity, trauma or even abnormal growths of soft tissue that may affect the spinal canal directly. Patients with this condition typically experience neck and back pain, numbness, weakness or pain in the arms or legs, and foot problems. More severe stenosis may cause problems with bowel and bladder function and foot disorders. Cauda equina syndrome is a rare but serious spinal stenosis condition that requires urgent medical attention. Other symptoms include difficulty standing, pain, numbness, or weakness in limbs and loss of motor control.

Specialists treating the condition may include neurologists, rheumatologists, orthopedic surgeons, pain management experts and physical therapists. The most common forms are –

• Cervical spinal stenosis, at the level of the neck
• Lumbar spinal stenosis, at the level of the lower back

The disorder may be difficult to diagnose as the signs and symptoms are similar to many age-related conditions. The doctor may use a variety of approaches to diagnose spinal stenosis and rule out other conditions. Diagnostic medical imaging is crucial as symptoms vary from patient to patient. Along with a thorough evaluation of the patient’s medical history and physical examination, physicians may use diagnostic modalities such as X-ray, Computed Tomography (CT) scan and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify the real cause of pain.

Effective Spinal Stenosis Pain Management Techniques

An interventional pain management strategy is provided to relieve the pain caused by this disorder. Based on the intensity of pain, surgical or non-surgical approach will be adopted.

Non-surgical Treatments

• Pain Medications
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Muscle relaxants
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Opioids
• Analgesics
• Physical therapy program includes exercises that can help to build up your strength and endurance, maintain the flexibility and stability of your spine and improve your balance.
• Steroid injections - Injecting a corticosteroid into the space around that constriction can help reduce the inflammation and relieve some of the pressure.

Alternative Treatment

• Chiropractic adjustment – Skilled chiropractors may manipulate the spine to restore normal spinal movement. With this manual technique, chiropractic experts help patients to relieve the stress on the vertebral column and curves of the spine. The procedure may also employ traction, a pulling force, to help increase the space between the vertebrae and reduce pressure on the affected nerves.
• Spinal Decompression – This FDA-cleared treatment involves the application of distraction forces using advanced equipment to treat disc injuries in the neck and lower back, and thus promote quick healing and relief from pain.

The effectiveness of non-surgical treatments, the extent of the patient's pain and the patient's preferences are the major factors to consider when determining whether or not to have surgery. The principal goal of surgery is to eliminate pressure on the spinal nerve roots and thus maintain the integrity and strength of the spine.

Make sure to choose a multi-specialty healthcare center in NY that offers comprehensive treatment programs for spinal stenosis and other such conditions.

As a leading multi-specialty healthcare center in Brooklyn, New York City, HealthQuest offers quality care and sophisticated services. Our unique approach to patient care ensures fast return to a pain-free lifestyle.