Spinal stenosis pain often manifests as numbness, weakness, a tingling sensation, or loss of control over bladder and bowel functions. In some cases, this might feel like diffuse pain around the glutes and legs. Other times it can be radiating pain similar to sciatica. The pain experienced as a side effect of spinal stenosis can range from mild to excruciatingly severe.
The most common causes of spinal stenosis are:
- Herniated or slipped disk
- Osteoporosis
- Thickened ligaments
Less common causes are:
- Tumors in the spine
- Birth defects
- Imperfections in the development of the segments of the spine
- An injury that has caused pressure on the spinal cord or nerve root
- Achondroplasia, Paget’s disease, or other bone diseases
Keeping good ergonomics and posture with all your movements is one of the most important things you can do to help prevent stenosis from occurring. This will help ensure you are in a good position to load your spine and body safely.
Exercise and physical therapy are also essential to help you maintain good posture through your movements and activities. Strengthening and stabilizing your body through various movements that translate to everyday activities will help you load your body and spine with good stability. Without this, your spine can experience shearing and compressive forces. This will inevitably compress your discs and cause wear and tear on your spine.
If you are a good candidate, the best alternative to surgery is non-surgical spinal decompression. We have treated hundreds of people with spinal stenosis. We can confidently say this is the number treatment. Once you’ve fully decompressed the spine and put your body in a better position, you can move on to physical therapy. Strengthening and stabilizing your spine allows you to maintain good posture and keep things from regressing.