Spinal stenosis is an all too common condition in which the spinal canal through which key nerves pass ends up narrowing. This loss in space leads to compression of the nerves, which can lead to a number of different physical symptoms that range in severity. Spinal stenosis tends to be more common in older adults who have experienced decades of stress and the natural aging process, but it can also develop in younger adults as a result of injuries, poor posture or a genetic predisposition.
One of the most common questions we receive from patients who are dealing with spinal stenosis is whether or not the condition can be treated naturally without surgery. Below, we explore some of the more common natural treatment options for spinal stenosis.
Treating Spinal Stenosis Without Surgery
Spinal stenosis can develop for a number of different reasons, so it’s imperative that you connect with your primary care physician or a spine specialist to figure out what’s causing the symptoms in your spine or extremities. The specific cause of your spinal canal narrowing will dictate your treatment path and will determine if it’s something that can be treated conservatively. For example, if a spinal tumor is causing the compression, you’re going to need to pursue more hands-on care.
However, if your spinal stenosis is caused by something more run-of-the-mill like inflammation or disc shifting, natural remedies may be available. Here are some of the ways we help patients manage their spinal stenosis without surgery.
- Physical Therapy – Physical therapy is one of the best and most effective ways to manage spinal stenosis symptoms and underlying causes. PT helps strengthen specific structures to take pressure off certain areas of your spine that may be contributing to inflammation onset, or it can help shift disc back into a healthier alignment, in turn taking pressure off nerve roots. Comfortable movement can be hard to come by when you’re dealing with spinal stenosis, but physical therapy helps you gradually restore normal movement and range of motion.
- Stretch-Based Therapy – Stretching and range of motion exercises can also help to naturally decompress different areas of your spine. Your physical therapist may recommend certain stretching techniques, but you may also find comfort in stretch-based therapy techniques like yoga or pilates. These techniques are also helpful at strengthening and stabilizing areas that can improve your spinal alignment, a key component of keeping spinal stenosis at bay.
- Hot/Cold Therapy – Hot and cold therapy can also target some of the contributing factors to spinal stenosis. Cold therapy can help to limit spinal inflammation onset that could be contributing to canal narrowing, while a heating pad can help bring healthy blood to an area, ensuring specific areas have access to necessary nutrients and oxygenated blood. For best results, pair this passive technique with a previously listed proactive treatment technique.
- Posture Improvement Training – We don’t always sit or move in ways that are conducive to a healthy spinal alignment, and over time these poor posture habits can greatly increase your risk of spinal stenosis. Your spine specialist or your physical therapist can take a closer look at your posture and show you how to perform self assessments on your own so that you can improve your posture and take pressure off your spine as a whole.
- Massage Therapy – Massages can help to break up muscle tension that could be leading to problems for nearby spinal nerves, but again this technique is best paired with active interventions that seek to strengthen your spine.
We’re confident that we can help you find a non-surgical treatment to manage your spinal stenosis, but we’re also able to provide top-notch hands on care if your situation requires it. Whatever you need, Dr. Jackman and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute are here for you. Give our team a call today at (651) 430-3800.
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