Once your doctor has confirmed that you have spinal stenosis, questions about your treatment options are probably the first thing to come to mind. Are there any treatments that will help relieve your pain? Will you need surgery? First, you should know that surgery to treat spinal stenosis is relatively rare and is reserved for a small percentage of patients with the condition. Second, your doctor will most likely recommend a regimen of conservative (nonsurgical) treatments to help mitigate your symptoms based on their location, frequency, and intensity, as well as your age and overall health. In the majority of cases, conservative spinal stenosis treatment is enough to relieve symptoms and help the patient return to a high quality of life.

Try Different Conservative Treatments

The conservative spinal stenosis treatment plan that you formulate with your doctor will probably require a bit of trial and error, particularly because the methods that work for one patient may not work for you. For this reason, it’s best that you take note of the conservative treatments that seem to improve your symptoms and those that don’t. For example, you may find that prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help counteract the pain and inflammation in your neck or back better than over-the-counter options. Or, you may discover that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy helps relax your muscles and reduce spasms more effectively than thermotherapy (the application of heat) does. Whatever the case, maintaining detailed notes surrounding your treatment progress can help your doctor make additional recommendations as needed.


What About Alternative Options?

While your doctor, being a member of the mainstream medical community, will most likely not readily suggest that you try alternative spinal stenosis treatment, you always have the option of exploring these holistic therapies. In some cases, patients suffering from the pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling associated with spinal stenosis have found relief from alternative treatments, like herbal therapy, massage, chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, and others. Before you begin any alternative treatment plan, however, you should consult both your doctor and a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) professional to ensure that the treatments you want to try are safe and won’t interfere with any medications you may already be taking.

Above all, listen to your body. If your neck or back pain is not responding to any nonsurgical treatment, it may be time to discuss the possibility of surgery with your doctor. However, it’s important to first perform your own research and be 100 percent comfortable with all of the risks and benefits associated with a surgical procedure before you sign any consent form.

Spinal stenosis symptoms are fairly easy for a spine specialist to recognize,
but for your doctor to accurately diagnose you, explaining your symptoms in as much detail as possible can be incredibly helpful. Symptoms typically arise in response to some form of nerve compression, with pressure placed on either the spinal cord or one of its nerve roots. Nerve compression can be caused by many other anatomical abnormalities in the spine, so carefully documenting your exact symptoms is essential in helping determine the cause of the stenosis, or narrowing, within your spinal column.

Common Symptoms

The discomfort you experience won’t be exactly the same as another patient with spinal stenosis, but there are a few general symptoms that may indicate restriction of the spinal canal (the space through which the spinal cord travels) or foraminal canals (the lateral intervertebral channels created by two stacked vertebrae through which spinal nerve roots travel).


Typically, spinal canal constriction in the neck or back could lead to:

• Difficulty picking up or holding objects
• Numbness or weakness in the upper or lower extremities
• Leg pain and cramping in the legs after long periods of standing or walking, which may decrease by sitting down or bending forward
• Paralysis from the point of compression down; usually in severe cases only

Constriction of one or more foraminal canals in the neck or back could result in the following spinal stenosis symptoms that radiate, or travel down the arms or legs:

• Pain
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Muscle weakness and spasticity

Carefully documenting the frequency, intensity, and location of your symptoms can provide your doctor with the information he or she needs to help ascertain a spinal stenosis diagnosis.

Managing Your Discomfort

Once your doctor confirms that your symptoms are caused by spinal stenosis, he or she can help you formulate a treatment plan to help alleviate your pain. Your doctor will likely recommend that you try several conservative, nonsurgical therapies to begin your treatment plan. These treatments might include pain medication, physical therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), stretching, and other methods. In all likelihood, your symptoms will decrease over a period of weeks or months.

Scoliosis can cause back pain in children, infants, and adults and is a condition where the spinal curvature becomes abnormal leading, potentially, to breathing problems, pain, spinal stenosis, and abnormal posture. Many cases of scoliosis in children are mild and remain asymptomatic but other cases can become severe and debilitating.

Whilst scoliosis is not a common cause of back pain in kids, the back condition may require surgery, use of a scoliosis back brace, or other intervention to correct the abnormality. The underlying pathology of scoliosis in children can include spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, Scheuermann kyphosis, disc herniation, or hydromyelia, although many cases of childhood scoliosis have no known cause and are referred to as idiopathic scoliosis.

Spinal Stenosis and Scoliosis Symptoms

Some spinal curvature is normal but scoliosis is a condition where the spine curves sideways rather than front to back, creating an ‘s’ or ‘c’ shape in the spine. Where the condition is identified early on as the cause of back pain in kids it can be successfully managed, treated, and prevented from becoming worse, in most cases. Longstanding spinal misalignment and scoliosis in adults may prove harder to correct and some symptoms may persist even after treatment. Pronounced abnormal spinal curvature can cause spinal stenosis with pinched nerves and further spinal degeneration creating symptoms that may become severe and permanent. Spinal curves of more than fifty degrees can cause significant problems as the lungs may become restricted, spinal structures are more liable to slip, herniate, and fracture, and spinal stenosis symptoms may be worse where a patient also develops degenerative disc disease or other back condition alongside scoliosis.

Causes of Scoliosis in Children

The cause of scoliosis is not identified in most cases although the condition often begins in childhood and tends to be more severe in girls than in boys. Catching the problem early can make a huge difference in prognosis with scoliosis as correction of the abnormal spinal curve is easier to effect as the child grows rather than later in life when the curve may be more significant. Scoliosis curvature of ten degrees or more occurs in an estimated 1.5-3%of the general population. Larger spinal curves or twenty degrees occur in 0.3-0.5% of people, and 0.2-0.3% of the population are thought to have scoliosis of thirty degrees or more.

Symptoms of Scoliosis in Children

Spotting scoliosis in children means being alert to abnormalities in posture, such as one shoulder being higher than the other or one hip appearing raised. Some parents notice that just one side of their child’s pants becomes worn and scuffed over time, indicating a possible discrepancy in leg-length due lumbar scoliosis and one hip being higher than the other. Some children with scoliosis have a shoulder blade that is more prominent than the other, or may appear to have a flat waistline on one side but not on the other.

In children with scoliosis it may also be that the child’s head appears to be off-center and that their ribs stick out or look higher on one side of the body, particularly when bending forwards. Symptoms of scoliosis in children may only present as mild postural issues but these can become more severe and pronounced as they grow and the spine continues to twist and curve abnormally. Adults with scoliosis may have trouble breathing and suffer from severe back pain.

Back Pain and Scoliosis in Childhood

Back pain in children can be caused by a variety of conditions, including scoliosis; a study by Ramirez, et al (1997), found a 23% incidence of back pain in children with idiopathic scoliosis and noted that the likelihood of back pain increased in those over fifteen years of age. Girls with scoliosis who had started their periods were also more likely to have symptoms of back pain, as were children with a history of injuries and who had more mature skeletal structures.

Curvature of more than 50 degrees is likely to cause breathing problems in those with scoliosis.

Scoliosis Correction for Children

Younger children and infants with scoliosis are considered most at risk of developing serious symptoms connected to the back condition. To check for scoliosis the doctor will assess the ribs and back to see if there are clear discrepancies. A chest or spine x-ray may then be necessary to measure the spinal curve if it is found to be abnormal. Children who are still growing may find that the spinal curvature worsens and their symptoms of scoliosis become more severe, including back pain, breathing difficulties, and even digestive issues if the postural defect is extreme. Some paediatricians believe in screening all children for scoliosis in order to catch it early and reduce its impact. Mild cases of scoliosis in children tend not to need correction or treatment as the spine may simply correct itself during growth or remain asymptomatic. Where scoliosis is diagnosed in a child they will likely need check-ups every four to six months to monitor development and some children may need to wear a scoliosis back brace to encourage proper alignment of the spine as they grow. In severe cases, if the brace does not work, children may need scoliosis surgery.

Coping with Scoliosis as a Family

Scoliosis can be a stressful condition for children as they may look and feel different to their friends and classmates and may have back pain, breathing problems, activity restrictions, and require regular visits to the doctor’s office or hospital. A back brace can also restrict activities and be uncomfortable, difficult to put on without help, and may make them feel conspicuous at school. It is important that the child understands why such interventions are necessary in order to help them cope with the condition in the best way possible. Siblings of those with scoliosis are also more likely to develop the condition themselves and so it is particularly important to monitor children’s growth in families where one or more members has the spine condition. Children with missing limbs or who are significantly shorter than their peers are also more likely to develop scoliosis, as are children who have incurred a previous spinal injury and whose vertebrae may already be out of alignment. However, in the review by Ramirez, et al, the incidence of back pain in children with scoliosis was not associated with gender, family history, or limb-length discrepancy.

Find out more about treatments for scoliosis, a spine condition that affects children and adults.

Reference

Ramirez N, Johnston CE, Browne RH., The prevalence of back pain in children who have idiopathic scoliosis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1997 Mar;79(3):364-8.

Several types of doctors can make a spinal stenosis diagnosis, but it’s likely that you’ll begin by consulting with your primary care physician when you first experience symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the back, neck, and/or extremities. Your primary care physician will probably perform a physical exam and review your symptoms, but may refer you to a specialist for more advanced testing, such as an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan. If you prefer to visit a specialist for an initial consultation, most orthopedists and neurologists would also be qualified to diagnose your condition.

If your physician or spine specialist confirms a spinal stenosis diagnosis, it is not the end of the world. In fact, the majority of people with the condition are usually able to manage their symptoms with a regimen of non-surgical, conservative treatment. The most basic pain relief techniques involve medication, physical therapy, hot/cold compresses, and behavior modification. Epidural steroid and/or nerve block injections also are available to deliver medication directly into the affected area of the spine, sometimes providing relief for months.

Staying Active With Spinal Stenosis

If you’re worried that a spinal stenosis diagnosis will put an end to your active lifestyle, you’ll be glad to know that moderate levels of exercise can be instrumental in strengthening the back and mitigating pain. Exercise not only releases endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, but it will strengthen all the muscles in the body, which can help take stress off the spine. Just make sure to consult with your doctor before trying any exercise regimen, as certain activities could make your condition worse. Common low-impact activities for people with spinal pain include swimming, walking, hiking, stationary cycling, or elliptical training. Gentle yoga, Pilates, exercise ball therapy, and tai chi also are options.

While most people will never need to consider the option of surgery after a spinal stenosis diagnosis, there are a few individuals who will not be able to find sufficient relief with conservative treatments. If you begin discussing the option of spine surgery with your doctor, be sure to inquire about all of the procedures that are available, as they will differ in their techniques, levels of invasiveness, risks, success rates, and projected recovery periods. You also can do your own research about spinal stenosis surgery as a way of arming yourself with information so that you can have an informed, productive conversation with your doctor when the time comes. Also consider the possibility of endoscopic procedures, which are minimally invasive alternatives to open spine surgery, and are becoming extremely popular with patients.

Most people are free of daily chronic pain such as can occur with spinal stenosis and so don’t understand how back pain can ruin your life, affecting your work, relationships, family, and recreation. Chronic pain of any kind is associated with an increased rate of depression, with back pain found to increase the likelihood of a patient also being depressed by six times. Around 6% of pain-free people suffer from major depression according to a rigorous community health survey conducted in Canada in recent years. The rate of major depression in those with chronic back pain? Nearly twenty percent. Yet only a small number of studies have looked at the relationship between back pain and depression and patients often receive little help for either condition.

Back Pain and Depression – A Common Combination

A study done by Currie and Wang in 2004 used data collected from 118,533 household residents in Canada with information on their lifestyle, medical conditions, and demographics available for analysis. Chronic back pain (lasting 6-months or more and diagnosed by a health professional) was identified in 9% of those providing information, and rates of major depression were 5.9% for pain-free individuals, and 19.8% for those with chronic back pain. What’s more, the more severe the back pain the greater the associated rates of major depression. Back pain was the strongest predictor of depression in patients even after adjusting for confounding factors such as other medical conditions and socioeconomic status. Those with both depression and chronic back pain had higher rates of disability than those with either condition alone. So how is it that chronic back pain can cause such suffering?

Pain Intensity, Duration, and Depressive Symptoms

Research by Von Korff, et al (1998) found that symptoms of depression were more common in those with chronic pain than those free of pain, with the incidence of depression correlated with the degree of interference the pain caused and the number of pain sites rather than the intensity of the pain as such. The World Health Organization (WHO) also looked at the psychological ramifications of chronic pain and found that 32% of those with somatoform pain disorder also met criteria for a depressive disorder (Von Korff and Simon, 1996).

The seemingly never-ending cycle of back pain and depression.

Symptoms of Depression

Signs of depression include loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, fatigue, sleeping problems and difficulties concentrating, weight gain, weight loss, feelings of worthlessness, suicidal thoughts, and depressed mood. For those with chronic back pain it might be easy to see why depression is easily missed in such patients. Many of these symptoms overlap as chronic back pain can reduce the ability to engage in previously enjoyed activities, can make you feel a burden to those around you, often disrupts sleep, may lead to weight gain through reduced activity, and could cause weight loss if you are unable to adequately provide for yourself due to problems shopping and cooking. You may have even experienced an accident or trauma of some kind that resulted in your back pain and, later, in depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. The difference, perhaps, between those suffering from these symptoms of depression due to a chronic medical condition, and those diagnosed with major depression alone is that the latter condition is much more likely to be addressed and attempts made to resolve the problem.

Causes of Depression and Back Pain

Oftentimes, patients with chronic pain feel unable to mention their struggles with the pain to their physician. After all, it is perfectly reasonable that a major change in your lifestyle, your ability to work, your capacity to go hiking, cycling, play with your kids, or dance, may result in feelings of despair and sadness. In some ways we may even see those who don’t despair at their diagnosis of a chronic pain condition as being in denial, or not fully comprehending their situation. Why then would a doctor bother with diagnosing depression in a patient who could be said to have a reason to be depressed?

Misdiagnosis of Depression with Back Pain

One of the major issues here is that not all patients with chronic back pain are depressed, meaning that it is not an inevitable consequence of the condition. Secondly, where depression does arise it may not even be related to the chronic back pain at all. Just as those with fibromyalgia may have a new symptom of intense fatigue dismissed as part of their condition, those with chronic back pain may simply have their depressed mood chalked up to their chronic pain. The patient with fibromyalgia may go years without having the real cause of their fatigue identified and it could be as simple as iron-deficiency anaemia, or a problem with their medications. This may also be true of the patient with chronic back pain and depression; the depression may be a sign of an imbalance in neurotransmitters, a side-effect of their own pain medication, or a consequence of a major life event that is dismissed or ignored as a potential cause of their symptoms.

Why Does It Matter?

Clearly it is important to try to reduce the incidence of depression wherever possible and it matters particularly in those with chronic back pain because it can also adversely affect their back health and even make both conditions worse in the long run. Depression can be worsened by pain and the perception of pain is also often worsened by depression. Chronic back pain can ruin your life by tipping you into a cycle of depression and pain and increased perception of pain as well as affecting your motivation to take care of your general health, nutrition, exercise, and attendance at medical appointments and pain-management clinics.

What to Do if Back Pain is Ruining Your Life

Join a support group to meet others suffering from back pain and depression.

Dealing with Depression and Chronic Back Pain

Depression is not an inevitable consequence of chronic back pain, you may have other things going on in your life that have caused you to feel depressed. Talking your situation over can help you identify the source(s) of your feelings and maybe even highlight opportunities to change things for the better. It may be that antidepressants can help, or that a change in diet, exercise, and even the simple act of getting outside in the sunshine more regularly makes a big difference to how you feel. Patients suffering from chronic pain often impose strict limits on themselves and go from being sociable and active to reclusive and reluctant to engage in previously enjoyed fun. Many things may now not be unrealistic but the importance of interacting with others, being part of a community, having close friends, loving family, and feeling needed, wanted, and useful are all still relevant even with chronic back pain. Yes, back pain can ruin your life, but realizing that it doesn’t have to is a major step back to happiness.

References

Currie, S.R., Wang, J.L., (2004), Chronic back pain and major depression in the general Canadian population. Pain, Vol.107, pp.54–60.

Von Korff, M., Dworkin, S.F., LeResche, L., Kurger, A., (1998), An epidemiologic
comparison of pain complaints. Pain, Vol.32, pp.173–83.

Managing your spinal stenosis symptoms can prove to be difficult when you have a full schedule that involves work, hobbies, family, friends, and/or pets. It’s important to keep in mind that an initial course of conservative treatment for your spinal stenosis will be more easily managed if it doesn’t disrupt your day-to-day activities too much, so try to integrate a variety of simple pain relief techniques into your routine.

Spinal stenosis symptoms generally arise when the narrowed portion of the spinal canal causes the compression of one or more nearby spinal nerves. No matter if the stenosis occurs due to a disc abnormality, bone spurs that grow around a facet joint, or ligament calcification, the symptoms will likely be similar among most patients. Radiating pain and a pins-and-needles sensation may travel throughout the back, neck, and extremities. It’s also possible to experience periods of numbness, joint instability, and muscle weakness.

Ask your doctor about the following treatment options:

• At work – Try to use ergonomic furniture at all times and, if you must stand for long periods of the day, be sure to wear supportive shoes and neck or back braces as necessary. Practice good posture techniques, too.
• At home – Do gentle stretches and low-impact exercises in your free time, and try to use your “rest” time wisely. For example, apply an ice pack or hot compress to your back as you watch TV, or use a therapeutic body pillow to properly align your spine as you read before bed.
• At night – Use a medium-firm mattress instead of an extremely firm mattress. If you’re a back sleeper, use a pillow with cervical support. If you’re a side sleeper, put a pillow between your knees to help your spine stay in its neutral “S” position.

In addition to conservative treatments that can be easily integrated into your daily routine, your doctor may prescribe pain medication, physical therapy, and behavior modification techniques to help manage your spinal stenosis symptoms. You may also find relief from ultrasound therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), acupuncture, or corticosteroid injections.

If a combination of non-surgical treatments proves ineffective even after several months, spinal stenosis surgery may become an option. While some decompression surgeries involve a high level of invasiveness, spinal fusion, bone grafts, and an arduous rehabilitation, minimally invasive procedures are available. Research the possibility of an outpatient, endoscopic procedure, which does not involve hospitalization, general anesthesia, or a large incision.

Anatomical degeneration is a natural part of the aging process, and it affects each person differently. While some people may exhibit degeneration in areas of the spine as early as their 30s or 40s, many others won’t notice signs of anatomical deterioration until their 50s, 60s, or even 70s. One of the first anatomical structures to experience the effects of degeneration is the spine, because it bears a great deal of weight and is involved in almost every form of body movement.

One of the most common results of spinal degeneration is spinal stenosis, or narrowing of the openings within the spine. Spinal stenosis causes can range from traumatic injuries to congenital defects, but the most common cause of this abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal is age-related degeneration.


As we age, the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, muscles, ligaments, and facet joints of the spine all sustain some degree of degeneration. Our discs can herniate or bulge, facet joints can lose their cartilaginous coating and develop bone spurs, muscles can weaken, ligaments can calcify, and vertebrae can shift or lose density. Any one of these can make bone or tissue to intrude on the space of the spinal canal and cause an area of it to narrow. When the canal narrows, there is a possibility of one or more spinal nerves becoming compressed and causing symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness in the back, neck, and/or extremities.

It’s not possible to avoid some spinal stenosis causes, but there are certainly ways to reduce your risk of developing symptoms related to the condition. Paying attention to overall spine health is a great way to start staving off accelerated or early onset deterioration. Avoid smoking, an unhealthy body weight, impact sports, and strenuous lifting. Try to maintain good posture at all times and perform gentle stretching exercises on a regular basis.

Spinal stenosis can be treated non-surgically and, in about 90 percent of cases, conservative techniques are all that are needed for patients to successfully manage their symptoms. However, in the event that a doctor-prescribed regimen of nonsurgical treatment proves ineffective after several months, more targeted treatments may be recommended. Open spine operations and minimally invasive procedures are available, and you should talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of both before making a final decision.

Spinal stenosis may have a genetic component but age-related degeneration is the usual culprit.

What is Spinal Stenosis?

Stenosis simply means ‘narrowing’ so it is possible to have arterial stenosis, tracheal stenosis, and mitral valve stenosis amongst other things. Spinal stenosis is, therefore, the narrowing of the spaces in the spinal canal, with or without symptoms, depending on the impact of the reduction in space on the nerves, spinal cord, and blood vessels. Spinal stenosis with neurogenic claudication is often responsible for back pain, radiating nerve pain, weakness, numbness, and paraesthesia in the limbs, and familiar conditions such as sciatica.

Acute and Inherited Causes of Spinal Stenosis

An acute period of inflammation caused by illness or infection may lead to pinched nerves, as can longer-term conditions such as degenerative disc disease, or arthritis in the spine. Not all patients suffering from spinal stenosis have a predisposition towards the condition as many incur a singular trauma to the spine from a fall, whiplash, or other accident. That being said, patients with congenitally narrow spaces in the spine are more likely to suffer permanent or more severe effects after such an injury. Where spinal stenosis occurs at a younger age it is also more likely that genetics are partly to blame for their symptoms. Some very young patients with congenitally narrow foramina can experience the symptoms of spinal stenosis and pinched nerves but fail to be properly diagnosed simply because they are considered too young to have such a condition usually connected to age-related degeneration of the spine.

Who Gets Spinal Stenosis?

Acute injury, such as a fall, can lead to spinal stenosis, as can degenerative spine disease.

Diagnosing Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis commonly goes undetected until acute symptoms arise or the patient undergoes an X-Ray or MRI scan for an unrelated issue. Many people remain asymptomatic even where evidence of spinal stenosis is clear to see on such diagnostic imaging and, in such cases, treatment is usually unwarranted and symptoms may never arise. In other cases, even mild spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine or cervical spine can cause debilitating symptoms and require treatment. Some conditions which can cause spinal stenosis and are known to have a hereditary component include ankylosing spondylitis, and rheumatoid arthritis, and so physicians may be more inclined to investigate these as possible causes of symptoms in a patients with close relatives with such conditions.

Treating Acute and Chronic Spinal Stenosis

Patients with a family history of spinal stenosis and symptoms of the condition may wish to take preventative steps earlier in life and seek medical attention for more minor symptoms earlier in order to try to counteract their genetic propensity to the back condition. However, just because a patient’s family members have had to undergo back surgery for spinal stenosis this does not mean that they themselves will also need, or benefit from, surgery.

Patients whose spinal stenosis is inherited and centers mainly on arthritic changes in the spine may find that certain medications or natural supplements and lifestyle modifications can slow down such degeneration. Others may find that knowing their family history and what has worked for other relatives with spinal stenosis can aid their own diagnosis and treatment but it is important to remember that whilst spinal stenosis can be inherited it is also often caused by everyday wear and tear or acute injury to the spine.

Not only can you exercise if you are diagnosed with spinal stenosis in the lower back – you absolutely should continue, as much as you are able, to maintain your daily workout regimen. The pain, tingling, numbness, and/or muscle weakness sometimes associated with stenosis, or a narrowing, of the spinal canal often can be combated more effectively by staying active than by getting off your feet for an extended period of time. In fact, prolonged rest, or a sedentary lifestyle, is one of the key risk factors for the development of spinal stenosis and other degenerative spine conditions. 

Of course, not everyone can expect to pick up where they left off in the gym after they’ve received a diagnosis of spinal stenosis in the lower back . Your ability to perform your normal exercise routine will, naturally, depend on the severity of your symptoms and your general overall health. The number one thing to remember about exercising as you recover from the effects of spinal stenosis is to make sure you get approval from your doctor. He or she will be able to gauge what you’re capable of doing safely, and what activities might exacerbate your symptoms. 

In general, the following exercises are often recommended as effective ways to stay active as your deal with the effects of spinal stenosis: 

• Stretches that improve the flexibility of the back and legs
• Low-impact activities, like walking and swimming, that improve cardiovascular health
• Light weight training that improves and maintains muscular strength
• Biomechanical exercises that improve posture and body mechanics

Even as you attempt to stay active, your doctor might also recommend a combination of other conservative, nonsurgical treatment methods. These might include pain medication, corticosteroid injections, massage, and more. One last (but very important) thing to remember: Use common sense when attempting to exercise with spinal stenosis in the lower back. If your pain becomes unbearable or you begin to feel symptoms elsewhere (such as a strained muscle or sprained ligament), stop that activity and contact your doctor.

Spinal stenosis in the neck (or cervical) region can produce pain, tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness and spasms in the neck, shoulders, upper back, arms, hands, and fingers. It also can cause recurring headaches. This stenosis, or narrowing, of the spinal canal results in symptoms when nerves in the area become compressed or “pinched.” The symptoms are typically treated using a targeted regimen of conservative methods. These methods can include pain medication, exercises, stretching, and corticosteroid injections.

Most people find, after a period of trial and error, that their neurological symptoms become manageable using some combination of these nonsurgical treatments. However, a small number of spinal stenosis patients might find that conservative, medically mainstream treatments are not enough, and turn to other sources for relief from back or neck pain.

Orthodox Medicine vs. Alternative Neck Pain Treatments

Although there is no sure way to predict how a patient might respond to particular treatments for spinal stenosis in the neck, there is no denying that many people swear by methods that are not necessarily approved by the American Medical Association. That’s not to say that the AMA and other major medical associations are entirely opposed to alternative treatments. In fact, in the late 1990s, the AMA devoted an entire issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association to alternative remedies. Still, patients should go into the experience with an understanding that many alternative methods do not carry a seal of approval from the scientific community at large, most likely because these treatments have not been proven effective by scientific research.

Alternative methods that some people use to battle spinal stenosis in the neck include:

• Alternative medical systems – traditional Chinese medicine, naturopathy, Ayurveda
• Mind-body interventions – cognitive-behavioral therapy, biofeedback
• Biologically based treatment – herbal supplements, homeopathy, pain patches
• Manipulative and body-based methods – acupuncture, massage, chiropractic adjustments, yoga, Tai Chi
• Energy therapies – ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), vibration therapy, magnetic therapy

Chronic Neck Pain Treatment

If chronic symptoms persist after several weeks or months of conservative and/or alternative treatment, it might be time to consider your surgical options for neck pain. Before consenting to any type of surgery, it would be wise to attain a second – and possibly even a third – opinion. Many people find that the most effective long-term treatment for spinal stenosis in the neck is the passage of time, during which the body self-corrects or the underlying condition subsides.