Lumbar spinal stenosis and its related back pain is common
and distressing for its sufferers. Dementia, neurogenic
claudication, decreased walking distance, poor balance, reduced
quality of life, and altered posture often accompany spinal
stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space invaders
invite spinal stenosis. At The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR, Colorado Springs spinal stenosis patients
who want to uninvite spinal stenosis have someone by their side.
THE IMPACT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS
Research continues to present lumbar
spinal stenosis as being linked to conditions like dementia
development, walking capacity, and reduced quality of life. A recent
study stated that lumbar spinal stenosis was an independent risk
factor for developing dementia. Of 1220 patients, 10.8% of the
lumbar spinal stenosis patients had dementia compared to only 4.4% of the control group members. (1) Older
adults with lumbar spinal stenosis were described as altering
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 deduced
that limited walking in symptomatic spinal stenosis patients was more related to spine loading which increased 7%. (2) Whatever
it is linked to, reduced walking ability is
not good. Someday it will be nice to understand more clearly the role of stenosis
in relationship to inhibited walking, but for now,
The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR will keep encouraging walking for
spinal stenosis patients, slow and steady and distance furthered
as able.
THE TREATMENT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS: Walk
Since spinal stenosis is so common a condition in older
folks, many guidelines and reports are issued
and with good reason. Decreased ability to walk
and quality of life are recorded side-effects of lumbar spinal
stenosis. These 2 issues remain the main
factors for back surgery in older sufferers.
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 the
management of lumbar spinal stenosis and related
neurogenic claudication suggested 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 reduced walking found
that manual therapy and exercise to increase walking distance
together was an effective treatment approach.
Epidural steroids weren’t. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care
of Colorado Springs spinal stenosis is endorsed by spine researchers and by
The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR.
CONTACT The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Nate McKee on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
illustrates 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 Colorado Springs chiropractic
appointment soon for pain relief of spinal stenosis that can
get you walking (more) again!