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    Non-surgical treatments are often used to manage spinal stenosis symptoms depending on severity. The three most common non-surgical options are exercises, activity modification, and epidural injections. Exercises alone do not cure stenosis but help patients remain active. Activity modification involves avoiding actions that worsen symptoms, like walking upright. Epidural injections provide temporary pain relief in about 50% of cases, with up to three injections tried over months.

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    Non-surgical treatments are often used to manage spinal stenosis symptoms depending on severity. The three most common non-surgical options are exercises, activity modification, and epidural injections. Exercises alone do not cure stenosis but help patients remain active. Activity modification involves avoiding actions that worsen symptoms, like walking upright. Epidural injections provide temporary pain relief in about 50% of cases, with up to three injections tried over months.

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    Pinal Stenosis Treatment

    Uploaded by

    ravideva84
    Non-surgical treatments are often used to manage spinal stenosis symptoms depending on severity. The three most common non-surgical options are exercises, activity modification, and epidural injections. Exercises alone do not cure stenosis but help patients remain active. Activity modification involves avoiding actions that worsen symptoms, like walking upright. Epidural injections provide temporary pain relief in about 50% of cases, with up to three injections tried over months.

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    pinal Stenosis Treatment

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    Depending on the severity of symptoms, spinal stenosis can often be managed through nonsurgical treatments.
    The three most common non-surgical spinal stenosis treatments include:

    Exercise

    Activity modification

    Epidural injections

    Non-surgical Treatment for Spinal Stenosis


    Non-surgical spinal stenosis treatment options for patients may include:

    Exercises for Sciatica from Spinal Stenosis Video

    Exercises. Although a suitable program ofspinal stenosis exercises may be helpful in


    the hands of a good physical therapist, it is not curative. Even though stenosis
    exercises are not a cure, however, it is very important for patients to remain active as
    tolerated and not additionally debilitated from inactivity; therefore, an appropriate
    spinal stenosis exercise program is a key part of any treatment program.

    Activity modification. With this treatment for stenosis, patients are usually counseled
    to avoid activities that cause adverse spinal stenosis symptoms. Patients are typically
    more comfortable while flexed forward. Examples of activity modification for
    treatment of spinal stenosis might include: walking while bent over and leaning on a
    walker or shopping cart instead of walking upright; stationary biking (leaning forward
    on the handlebars) instead of walking for exercise; sitting in a recliner instead of on a
    straight-back chair.

    Article continues below

    Epidural Steroid Injections Video

    Epidural injections. An injection of cortisone into the space outside the dura (the
    epidural space) can temporarily relieve symptoms of spinal stenosis. While injections
    can seldom be considered curative, these spinal stenosis treatments can alleviate the
    pain in about 50% of cases. Up to three injections over a course of several months can
    be tried. Although they are not considered diagnostic in and of themselves, generally,
    if the pain caused by spinal stenosis is relieved by an epidural steroid injection, then
    the patient can also be expected to have a good result if they later choose to have
    spinal stenosis surgery.

    In This Article:

    What is Spinal Stenosis?

    Spinal Anatomy and its Effects on Types of Spinal Stenosis

    Spinal Stenosis Symptoms and Diagnosis

    Spinal Stenosis Treatment

    Spinal Stenosis Surgery

    Spinal Stenosis Symptoms and Diagnosis Video

    Additional Treatments for Spinal Stenosis

    Spinal Stenosis Treatment Video


    Anti-inflammatory medication (such as aspirin or ibuprofen) may be helpful in treating spinal
    stenosis. Some physicians recommend a multiple B-complex vitamin with 1200 mcg of folic
    acid daily, but this has not been substantiated in the medical literature as an effective
    treatment for stenosis.
    Some people may successfully manage the symptoms of spinal stenosis with the non-surgical
    therapies either for a period of time or indefinitely. The key in choosing whether or not to
    have surgery is the degree of physical disability and disabling pain from lumbar spinal
    stenosis.

    See When to See a Surgeon for Spinal Stenosis

    As a guideline, when the (usually elderly) patient can no longer walk sufficiently to care for
    himself or herself (such as to go shopping for essentials), then lumbar spinal stenosis surgery
    is usually recommended. Surgery for lumbar stenosis is mainly designed to increase a
    patients activity tolerance, so he or she can do more activity with less pain.
    Next Page: Spinal Stenosis Surgery
    PAGES:

    Related Articles:

    Cervical Foraminal Stenosis

    Cervical Stenosis with Myelopathy

    Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Definitive Guide

    Lumbar Decompression Back Surgery

    Living with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

    Related Videos:

    X-STOP Interactive Video


    From a surgeons viewpoint see how X-STOP, a minimally invasive surgical procedure, is
    designed to relieve symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis.

    Sciatica Exercises for Spinal Stenosis Video


    Learn the correct technique for performing stretches and exercises to increase back strength
    and relieve sciatica caused by spinal stenosis.

    Treatment for Spinal Stenosis Video


    Learn more about spinal stenosis and how to treat it in this informative video.
    A Spine-health.com Peer Reviewed Article
    Written by Charles D. Ray, MD

    B LO G H O M E

    B AC K PA I N S T O R E

    SPINAL STENOSIS SITE

    A BO U T

    Spinal Stenosis Blog


    Thoracic Spinal Stenosis
    Breathing Difficulties and Other
    Symptoms
    by LMATTHEWS on AUGUST 29, 2012

    The thoracic spine is connected to the ribs and stenosis here can cause
    breathing difficulties.

    Thoracic spinal stenosis may be less common


    than lumbar spinal stenosisor cervical spinal
    stenosis but it can still cause pain along with a
    variety of other symptoms. The thoracic spine is
    made up of twelve vertebrae starting from the
    shoulders and going down through the rib cage to
    the lumbar spine. The spinal cord is protected inside
    this spinal column and spinal nerves branch off and
    exit the spine through foramina in the thoracic
    vertebrae.

    Effects of Stenosis in the Thoracic Spine


    Where stenosis (narrowing) of these foramina occurs the nerves
    can become trapped and pain, altered sensation, motor difficulties
    and even organ dysfunction may arise as a result. Thoracic spinal
    stenosis can cause breathing difficulties in some patients and,
    whilst rare, may require immediate attention to decompress the
    spine. Even minor trauma to the back can cause spinal cord injury
    (SCI) in those with spinal stenosis and an SCI at the thoracic level
    could lead to paralysis of the intercostal muscles and other
    muscles involved in breathing.

    Symptoms of Thoracic Spinal Stenosis


    Nerves which exit the thoracic spine are not just responsible for
    innervating respiratory muscles, however, they also extend far
    into the body to organs and other muscles. As such, injury at the
    mid-level of the spine, causing thoracic spinal stenosis and nerve
    or spinal cord compression can have an effect at any level below
    the site of injury, even into the legs. Total loss of sensation may
    occur or patients may experience intermittent numbness and
    paraesthesia with progressive weakness if this pins and needles
    sensation is not adequately addressed.

    Muscle Atrophy, Paralysis and Breathing


    Problems
    Thoracic spinal stenosis that goes untreated can lead to
    irreversible neurological injury and atrophy of the muscles as they
    are no longer receiving signals from motor neurons. Respiratory
    difficulties and weakness in the legs are two possible symptoms
    of thoracic spinal stenosis that has led to muscle weakness or
    paralysis. This may begin as muscle spasms, cramps, and
    uncontrollable movements or gait disturbances. Continued spasms
    of the muscles may trigger muscle fatigue and pain, followed by
    weakness. Where these symptoms are severe it is sometimes
    necessary to undergo back surgery to decompress the thoracic
    spine in an attempt to restore functional gait and mobility.

    Diagnosing Thoracic Spinal Stenosis

    Another possible sign of thoracic spinal stenosis is an acute issue


    of orthostatic hypotension. This is a condition involving low
    blood pressure when changing position, such as when standing
    suddenly after sitting or lying down. Blood pressure disturbances

    are connected to thoracic spinal stenosis in some cases due to


    damage to the nerves that control the muscle tone of blood
    vessels. Dizziness may not seem an obvious sign of spinal
    stenosis but it may be an important diagnostic sign in those with
    intermittent and disparate symptoms.

    Causes of Thoracic Spinal Stenosis


    Thoracic spinal stenosis may be a result of back trauma,
    congenital defect, wear and tear, or even the knock-on effects
    from back surgery in the lumbar or cervical spine. Generally,
    thoracic spinal stenosis is less common than stenosis in the other
    spinal sections due to its relative stability and, thus, reduced wear
    and tear. However, where it does arise, the symptoms of stenosis
    in the thoracic spine can be quite different from those expected
    from stenosis in the neck or lower back. The usual culprits
    of degenerative disc disease, bone spurs, arthritis, and disc
    herniation can all cause thoracic spinal stenosis, as can ligament
    calcification and adjacent segment syndrome after back surgery.

    Treating Thoracic Spinal Stenosis


    Treatment for thoracic spinal stenosis depends on the severity and
    progression of the condition and may involve physical therapy,
    pain medications and other conservative options for several
    months before back surgery is suggested. In some cases it may
    simply be a matter of time and rest or limited activity that is
    needed to allow the spine to heal after incurring some trauma.
    A back brace could be helpful for some patients but may actually
    hinder the healing process and lead to further muscle atrophy in
    others so it is important to consult a qualified physician before
    applying any treatments for thoracic spinal stenosis.

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