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 modified posture often accompany spinal
stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space intruders
invite spinal stenosis. At Vancouver Disc Centers, Vancouver spinal stenosis patients
who want to uninvite spinal stenosis have someone to
help.
THE IMPACT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS
Research keeps presenting lumbar
spinal stenosis as being linked to conditions like dementia
development, walking capacity, and reduced quality of life. A recent
study reported that lumbar spinal stenosis was an independent risk
factor for developing dementia. Of 1220 patients, 10.8% of the
lumbar spinal stenosis patients experienced dementia as
opposed to only 4.4% of the control group members. (1) Older
adults with lumbar spinal stenosis were portrayed as altering
their posture with a forward bend to improve 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
walking and standing. 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, decreased walking ability isn’t good. Someday it will be nice to understand more clearly the role of stenosis
in relationship to inhibited walking, but for now,
Vancouver Disc Centers will keep encouraging walking for
spinal stenosis patients, slow and steady and distance furthered
as tolerated.
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 walking ability
and quality of life are recorded side-effects of lumbar spinal
stenosis. These two 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 handling lumbar spinal stenosis and related
neurogenic claudication encouraged non-surgical multimodal care
to consist of 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 regarding
the outcomes of treatments for lumbar spine stenosis related neurogenic
claudication that decreased the ability to walk found
that manual therapy and exercise to improve walking distance
together was a beneficial treatment method.
Epidural steroids weren’t. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care
of Vancouver spinal stenosis is recommended by spine researchers and by
Vancouver Disc Centers.
CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers
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.
Schedule your Vancouver chiropractic
appointment soon for pain relief of spinal stenosis that can
get you walking (more) again!