Lumbar spinal stenosis and its related back pain is common
and troubling for its sufferers. Dementia, neurogenic
claudication, reduced walking distance, poor balance, decreased
quality of life, and modified posture often accompany spinal
stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space invaders
invite spinal stenosis. At Satterwhite Chiropractic, Oxford spinal stenosis sufferers
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 lower quality of life. A recent
study stated 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 only 4.4% of the control group members. (1) Older
adults with lumbar spinal stenosis were portrayed as changing
their posture with a forward bend to enhance their ability and
tolerance for walking. Researchers who studied this
phenomenon found that this posture was more of a forward shift of the pelvis while
standing and walking. They concluded
that limited walking in symptomatic spinal stenosis patients was more related to spine loading which increased 7%. (2) Whatever
it is related to, reduced walking ability is
not good. Someday it will be nice to understand more clearly the role of stenosis
in relationship to decreased walking, but for now,
Satterwhite Chiropractic 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 published
and with good reason. Reduced walking ability
and quality of life are documented side-effects of lumbar spinal
stenosis. These 2 issues persist as the main
indicators for back surgery in older patients.
Sadly, 40% of those who undergo spinal surgery for the lumbar spinal stenosis still
state difficulty with walking post-surgery. (3) Recommendation 1 of a more recent guideline for managing 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 on
the outcomes of treatments for lumbar spine stenosis related neurogenic
claudication that decreased walking found
that manual therapy and exercise to improve walking distance
together was a beneficial treatment approach.
Epidural steroids were not. (5) Conservative, non-surgical care
of Oxford spinal stenosis is endorsed by spine researchers and by
Satterwhite Chiropractic.
CONTACT Satterwhite Chiropractic
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 Oxford chiropractic
appointment today for improved walking and decreased
back pain due to Oxford lumbar spinal stenosis!