If you’re one of the 31 million Americans living with back pain at any given time, you want relief. A critical part of getting effective and long-lasting treatment is identifying the root cause.
Spinal stenosis is a common spine condition — up to 95% of Americans have some degree of spinal degeneration by the time they’re 50. Many people have asymptomatic spinal stenosis, but others end up with chronic back pain and other debilitating symptoms.
Here at Spinal Stenosis and Disc Center, Inc. in Santa Monica, California, our expert chiropractors take a holistic approach to treating spinal stenosis. We help many people recover from this and other painful conditions, helping them get back to their regular activities.
Over the years, we’ve increased our knowledge and experience and want to share a few details that can help you get the treatment you need to maintain a healthy, active, and fulfilling life.
About spinal stenosis
Stenosis is the clinical term for narrowing. Your vertebrae link together, creating a column that surrounds your spinal cord. When you have spinal stenosis, that column narrows and can compress your spinal cord or the peripheral nerves that branch out into your body.
You’re most likely to develop spinal stenosis in your neck (cervical spine) or lower back (lumbar spine). Age-related changes and degeneration such as thickened ligaments and osteoarthritis are common causes of spinal stenosis.
Herniated discs, bone spurs, tumors, and spinal dislocations and fractures can also cause spinal stenosis.
Spinal stenosis symptoms
As mentioned, many people have spinal stenosis but don’t know it because their condition doesn’t cause symptoms. However, if your condition is compressing a nerve, you might experience the following:
- Pain in your neck or lower back
- Pain that radiates through your arms, hands, feet, or legs
- Numbness or tingling in your limbs
- Weakness in your limbs
- Loss of balance and coordination
Spinal stenosis symptoms usually develop gradually and vary depending on the location of your issue. When untreated, spinal stenosis can lead to complications including neuropathy (nerve damage), incontinence, or paralysis.
Spinal stenosis can also increase your risk of falling and suffering serious injuries.
Spinal stenosis treatments
Here at Spinal Stenosis and Disc Center, Inc., our team provides personalized, nonsurgical treatments for spinal stenosis. After your initial consultation, your provider goes over your diagnosis and treatment options. We might recommend:
Spinal manipulations
Our chiropractors perform personalized spinal manipulations to correct misalignment and other imbalances in your back. While a single treatment can significantly reduce your symptoms, we usually recommend a series of appointments to heal your condition.
Massage and myofascial release
We also offer massage and myofascial release treatments to reduce muscle tension and inflammation, which contribute to spinal stenosis and pinched nerves.
Nonsurgical spinal decompression
We use the DRX 9000™ to deliver advanced, nonsurgical spinal decompression. The DRX 9000 is a computerized, integrated spinal traction table that helps create space in your spine and relieve pain.
Physiotherapy
In addition to your in-office sessions, we teach you exercises and stretches to practice at home. A daily exercise regimen helps reduce pain and improve spinal alignment.
Inversion therapy
Inversion therapy can help stretch your spine, increasing the space between your vertebrae and reducing the effects of gravity and age on your bones and spinal discs.
You don’t have to live with pain or other spinal stenosis symptoms. Call our office or make an appointment online today for expert diagnosis and highly personalized treatment plans.