What you should know about the treatment of spinal stenosis

What you should know about
the treatment of spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spaces especially in the spine that produces greater pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. It has been observed that almost 75% of cases occur mainly in the lumbar area requiring treatment of the lumbar spine. The type of spinal stenosis treatments received for this problem may vary, as it totally depends on the location of the stenosis and the severity of its signs and symptoms.
Here are some treatments offered by a specialist in the spine:

1- Drugs
Sometimes medications are prescribed by doctors in the spine to control the pain associated with spinal stenosis. Some of the common prescription drugs are mentioned below.
• NSAIDs (Onsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. These mainly include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen (Aleve), which are readily available without a prescription.
• Muscle relaxants help calm muscle spasms that occur from time to time and these drugs include cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril, Fexmid).
• Antidepressants such as amitriptyline are recommended as tricyclic nocturnal doses to relieve chronic pain.
• Anticonvulsive medications are commonly used to reduce pain caused by damaged nerves and these drugs include names such as gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) and pregabalin (Lyrica).
2- Therapy
People who suffer from stenosis tend to be less active in reducing pain caused by physical activities. This leads to increased muscle weakness is even more painful. Therefore, a physiotherapist teaches some exercises to develop strength, maintain stability and flexibility of the spine and improve the maintenance of balance.
 
3- Steroid injections
Because of this disease the nerve roots become slightly irritated spots swollen cut. Therefore, injection of corticosteroids around this constriction reduces inflammation and relieves pressure. Theses injections sometimes do not work for everyone and if they are repetitive, they can cause weakness in neighboring bones as well as connective tissue. Therefore, only a few injections per year are suggested.
 
4- Surgery
Surgery is considered only when other treatments do not work or the patient is at a disadvantage because of their symptoms. The main purpose of surgery is to relieve pressure on the nerve roots of the spinal cord or that is done by creating more space in the spinal canal. The main examples of proposed surgeries are laminectomy, laminectomy and laminographie.
 
In most cases, the creation of space operations help reduce the symptoms of spinal stenosis. But sometimes the symptoms do not go away completely or even get worse after the surgery. Surgery even includes some risks such as infections, blood clots in a leg vein, neurological deterioration or even a tear in the membrane that covers the spinal cord.

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