Lumbar spinal stenosis and its related back pain is widespread
and troubling for its sufferers. Dementia, neurogenic
claudication, reduced walking distance, poor balance, lessened
quality of life, and modified posture often accompany spinal
stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space intruders
invite spinal stenosis. At OrthoIllinois Chiropractic, McHenry spinal stenosis sufferers
who want to uninvite spinal stenosis have someone by their side.
THE IMPACT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS
Research keeps presenting lumbar
spinal stenosis as being linked to issues like dementia
development, walking capacity, and reduced quality of life. A new
study reported that lumbar spinal stenosis was an independent risk
factor for acquiring dementia. Of 1220 patients, 10.8% of the
lumbar spinal stenosis patients experienced dementia compared to just 4.4% of the control group members. (1) Older
adults with lumbar spinal stenosis were described as changing
their posture with a forward bend to enhance their ability and
tolerance for walking. Researchers who looked into this
phenomenon found that this posture was more of a forward shift of the pelvis during
standing and walking. They concluded
that limited walking in symptomatic spinal stenosis patients was more associated
with spine loading which increased 7%. (2) Whatever
it is linked to, reduced walking ability isn’t good. Someday it will be nice to understand more clearly the part stenosis plays
in relationship to slowed walking, but for now,
OrthoIllinois Chiropractic will keep encouraging walking for
spinal stenosis patients, slow and steady and distance increased
as able.
THE TREATMENT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS: Walk
Since spinal stenosis is so common a condition in older
folks, multiple guidelines and articles are issued
and with good reason. Reduced ability to walk
and quality of life are documented side-effects of lumbar spinal
stenosis. These two issues remain the leading
factors for back surgery in older patients.
Sadly, 40% of those who undergo spinal surgery for the lumbar spinal stenosis still
report walking issues post-surgery. (3) Recommendation 1 of a newer guideline for managing lumbar spinal stenosis and associated
neurogenic claudication encouraged non-surgical multimodal care
to include non-drug therapy with education, advice, lifestyle
changes, home exercise, manual therapy, acupuncture (trial), rehab, and therapy.
(4) An update to the 2013 Cochrane review of research studies on
the outcomes of treatments for lumbar spine stenosis related neurogenic
claudication that decreased the ability to walk found
that manual therapy and exercise to increase walking distance
together was an effective treatment approach.
Epidural steroids were not. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care
of McHenry spinal stenosis is recommended by spine researchers and by
OrthoIllinois Chiropractic.
CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Nate McKee on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes the relief with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management for a patient with lumbar spinal stenosis and balance issues. Relief with Cox® Technic is described.
Make your McHenry chiropractic
appointment today for pain relief of spinal stenosis that can
get you walking (more) again!