As many of us grow older, grey hair and wrinkles aren’t the only thing we look forward to. Degenerative changes can begin to occur to the spine. The aging process is not always to blame to though, more so the overall neglect over many years.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is one of these degenerative conditions. This happens when the canal housing of the spine begins to narrow. This condition in the neck is called cervical stenosis and in the lower back, lumbar stenosis.
These conditions are typically diagnosed after 60. When the spinal canal narrows, pressure is added to the spinal cord and nerve roots.
Common Symptoms
Symptoms of lumbar stenosis often include lower back pain, leg pain, or numbness.Symptoms of cervical stenosis however can be more serious and include burning and tingling in the hands.Problems with walking, balance, and bladder control may also occur.
Those who have cervical stenosis, have often had injuries to the neck with these injuries mostly resulting from whiplash from car accidents.
Chiropractic Treatment
Treatments are available to help with the pain which includes medication, physical therapy, injections or surgery. Medication however has side effects. Physical therapy is an option which assists in exercising misaligned spinal joints. Surgery is an option but can be risky with minimal long term effects.
Chiropractic care performed on patients with these conditions have reported they have found relief from their pain. Chiropractors work to reduce the underlying cause which will prevent future damage. An approach that is all natural and non-invasive is restoring spinal alignment and proper curves to reduce spinal stenosis.
Our Atlanta chiropractors are here to answer your questions about spinal stenosis and want you to know that chiropractic care should be your first step in the healing process as this can eliminate the need for medications and even surgery. Contact our office today at (404) 889-8828 to set up a consultation to get you on the right path to being pain free!