Spinal Stenosis Treatment - Activity Modification

After a doctor has confirmed that a patient has spinal stenosis, the treatment methods he or she suggests will likely begin conservatively (non-surgically). Such methods might include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, back or neck bracing, or epidural injections. Some patients also find relief simply by making some adjustments to their normal activities. To understand how activity modification can alleviate spinal stenosis symptoms, it is helpful to understand the two main directional movements of the spine.

Spinal Extension and Flexion

The spine is composed of individual vertebrae that are connected at facet joints. These joints allow the spine to move in a variety of directional planes, particularly forward and backward. When you lean backward, you are "extending" the spine. Conversely, you "flex" the spine as you lean forward. Interestingly, flexion is the main movement that can serve as a spinal stenosis treatment. Why? The spinal canal naturally opens up or widens when the spine is flexed, so patients with nerve compression due to spinal stenosis (or the narrowing of the spinal canal) tend to feel relief from pain when leaning forward.

Modifying Activities

Since spinal flexion can provide pain relief for spinal stenosis patients, a doctor may recommend the following adjustments to activities that might normally cause pain:

If Activity Modification Fails to Provide Relief

In general, a doctor will not recommend surgery as a spinal stenosis treatment unless all other conservative methods have proven ineffective at alleviating symptoms. If you have been asked to consider surgery, it is important to research and understand all of the potential procedures before moving forward.