How to Find Treatment for Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a type of medical condition that can place pressure on your spine when one or more areas of your spine narrows. Spinal stenosis, in most cases, is a degenerative disease that develops over time. In rare cases, spinal stenosis can be present from birth. Symptoms of the condition include back pain, hip discomfort, loss of bowel and bladder function, and loss of balance.
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Instructions
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Have your family doctor order an MRI, bone scan and CT scan for you. This will help him determine how serious your condition is and what treatments will work best for you.
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Get nonsurgical treatment for spinal stenosis. Your doctor will likely recommend medications in order to control the pain and inflammation associated with the condition. Ibuprofen and indomethacin are available over the counter and can be recommended on an as-needed basis by your doctor. Corticosteroid injections can also be used by a physician for pain relief.
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Visit a physical therapist. A physical therapist can recommend back strengthening exercises that can help treat your spinal stenosis.
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Meet with a surgeon for back surgery to treat spinal stenosis if non-surgical methods are unsuccessful. Surgery can be used to relieve the pressure on your spine that has occurred as a result of the condition. Some types of surgery that can be performed include laminotomy and spinal fusion. During laminotomy, the bone in the spinal cavity is removed to relieve pressure on the spine. Spinal fusion permanently connects vertebrae in order to create spinal stability.
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