Lumbar spinal stenosis and its related back pain is common
and troubling for its sufferers. Dementia, neurogenic
claudication, reduced walking distance, poor balance, lessened
quality of life, and altered posture often attend spinal
stenosis. Disc herniations, disc degeneration, and other spinal canal space invaders
invite spinal stenosis. At Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C., Auburn 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 issues like dementia
development, walking capacity, and reduced quality of life. A new
study reported that lumbar spinal stenosis was an independent risk
factor for acquiring dementia. Of 1220 patients, 10.8% of the
lumbar spinal stenosis patients had dementia compared to just 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 studied this
phenomenon found that this posture was more of a forward shift of the pelvis during
standing and walking. They concluded
that limited walking in symptomatic spinal stenosis patients was more associated
with spine loading which rose 7%. (2) Whatever
it is related to, decreased walking ability isn’t good. Someday it will be nice to understand more clearly the role of stenosis
in relationship to decreased walking, but for now,
Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. will keep encouraging walking for
spinal stenosis patients, slow and steady and distance increased
as able.
THE TREATMENT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS: Walk
Since spinal stenosis is so common a condition in older
folks, multiple guidelines and reports are issued
and with good reason. Reduced ability to walk
and quality of life are documented side-effects of lumbar spinal
stenosis. These 2 issues remain the leading
indicators for back surgery in older sufferers.
Sadly, 40% of those who undergo spinal surgery for the lumbar spinal stenosis still
report walking issues after
surgery. (3) Recommendation 1 of a more recent guideline for dealing with lumbar spinal stenosis and associated
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 reports regarding
the outcomes of treatments for lumbar spine stenosis related neurogenic
claudication that reduced walking 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 Auburn spinal stenosis is endorsed by spine researchers and by
Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C..
CONTACT Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.
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 Auburn chiropractic
appointment now for improved walking and decreased
back pain due to Auburn lumbar spinal stenosis!