INCIDENCE

The prevalence of lumbar canal stenosis has been suggested as ranging from 1.7 to 13.1%. The prevalence of acquired LSS increases with age with women getting affected more than men.

ABOUT THE CONDITION

1. Lumbar spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal and compression of the spinal cord and its nerves producing symptoms like pain, tingling numbness, and weakness.
2. The most common cause of it being degeneration, it can also be caused due to other reasons including congenital, post-traumatic, spondylolisthetic, tumor-compressing.
3. Symptoms initially start with bouts of low back and radiating pain. The classical complaint in lumbar stenosis is neurogenic (or spinal) claudication. These symptoms include radiating pain, tingling, and weakness of the leg. Usually has bilateral leg complaints and distribution of pain is dependent on the area of stenosis(compression). Additional symptoms in the legs may be fatigue, heaviness, leg cramps, as well as bladder issues.
4. Prolonged standing and walking, back bending becomes difficult or aggravates the symptoms. Forward bending, sitting, stooping, or lying helps relieve the symptoms.
5. At RehabMax Physio physiotherapy and rehabilitation center, we assist you in avoiding the pain of the injury and help you get fitter faster.

TREATMENT

• Medical management includes NSAIDS, pain-relievers, muscle relaxants, oral opioids on a short-term basis, and B12 and tricyclic antidepressants to reduce nerve pain.
• Decompressive Surgery for spinal stenosis is indicated for significant myelopathy, radiculopathy, and/or neurogenic claudication.
  Physical therapy would include:
• Spinal Mobilization to improve mobility of vertebral joints and nerves in the available space of the lumbar canal.
• Releasing tight paraspinal muscles either manually or by dry needling.
• Neural mobilization to mobilize the nerve and relieve the neural symptoms.
• Spinal mobility exercises to maintain the mobility of the lumbar spine.
• Abdominal, core, and hip strengthening programs to provide strength.