Conservative Spinal Stenosis Treatment Options

Conservative spinal stenosis treatment is generally what doctors first recommend for patients who have just been diagnosed with the condition. The reasoning behind this is that in many cases, conservative treatment alone helps patients find considerable, if not complete, relief from their symptoms. The conservative treatment methods most commonly sought out usually include physical therapy, cryotherapy and thermotherapy, exercise, bed rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and even corticosteroid injections. It is fairly common for several of these treatment methods to be used concurrently in hopes of providing maximum relief.

Different Treatment Plans for Different People

No two cases of spinal stenosis are exactly the same. One person may suffer from spinal stenosis as a result of a bulging intervertebral disc in the cervical spine (neck) while someone else may suffer from the condition as a result of spondylolisthesis (vertebral slippage) in the lumbar spine (lower back). Bulging discs and slipped vertebrae can both result in spinal stenosis, but would likely not receive the same treatment. Your doctor will tailor a specific spinal stenosis treatment regimen for you, and it is intended to be followed strictly.

When Conservative Treatment is not Enough

There are times when conservative spinal stenosis treatment efforts may not do the trick. The symptoms may stick around even after several weeks or months of treatment. If this seems to be the case for you, visit your doctor once again, and explain that the treatment efforts have proven ineffective. Your doctor may wish to try a nonsurgical treatment option that was previously not pursued, but he or she may also bring up the possibility of surgery. Though regarded as a last resort option, surgery is a viable spinal stenosis treatment from which many patients find significant relief. And, if the nonsurgical treatment regimen hasn't panned out for you, your chances of surgical candidacy are greatly improved. Be sure to ask your doctor about the surgical options available and seek out other medical opinions before making a decision.