Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis- one of the most common reasons for spinal surgery in older people-are commonly recognized by a bent-forward, shuffling posture and a characteristics small-step gait. Stenosis surgery, however, is a major procedure that is recommended only when conservative methods of care aren't effective - or when stenosis is caused by such things as tumors or accompanied by intolerable pain or severe neurological problems, such as loss of bowel and bladder function.
There are three basic treatment approaches to spinal stenosis; the conservative medical approach, which frequently involves bed rest, analgesics, local heat, and muscle relaxants; the conservative chiropractic approach, which includes manipulation, exercise, and self-care techniques; and surgery. The source of the stenosis often dictates the treatment.