What a superb
question! Spine surgeons aren’t positive about the best route for
spinal stenosis, yet
conservative care is acquiring more
and more attention in the medical research! Johnson Chiropractic
performs
non-surgical care
that eases discomfort for Richmond spinal stenosis sufferers. Our patients at Richmond suffering
from spinal stenosis come to Johnson Chiropractic will find our care gentle and
comfortable and appreciate the
research and
protocols that make up its administration.
First of all, what is spinal stenosis? Spinal
stenosis is the result of narrowing in the spinal canal area.
For many of us
lumbar
spinal stenosis happens with age when erosion of the spine emerges. It may be due to how the spinal elements were constructed originally. (Some people are born with narrow spinal canals.) Likewise spinal stenosis can be the effect of a disc
herniation that is injecting itself into the spinal canal, taking up the space that is designed for the spinal nerves. Regardless
of the cause, spinal stenosis’ narrowing causes pain.
Often when a surgeon identifies
that a patient has spinal stenosis they will offer surgical choices to widen
that narrowed space. There are many procedures
from which a patient may choose. Decompressive surgery is one such type. It is a financially
friendly choice for lumbar spinal stenosis, but surgical and conservative
treatment approaches result in comparable quality of life at one year follow
up.
(1) Spinal fusion is another such option. A Cochrane Database Review, a big deal in the world of
research, reports that there is no significant
difference at 6 months and 12 months post spine surgery for lumbar spinal
stenosis. Cochrane pulled from 12,966 citations to conclude
further that they have very little confidence to determine whether surgical or
conservative care is better for lumbar spinal stenosis. They, therefore, offer
no new clinical practice recommendations for doctors to follow. They do
emphasize though that side-effects
from surgery range from 10% to 24% and side effects from conservative
care, 0%. There
were no side effects from conservative care for lumbar spine stenosis in their
review. Further,
they report that there
were no clear benefits seen with surgery versus no surgery. They warn clinicians to carefully
inform patients about possible treatment options “especially given that
conservative treatment options have results in no reported side effects.”
(2)
When lumbar spinal stenosis is causing you
pain,
call Johnson Chiropractic, the Richmond chiropractic
practice for gentle relief of back pain. Johnson Chiropractic
chiropractic care at Richmond
may definitely be the answer to the
question of “what can I do about my spinal
stenosis?” for you!
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."