Spinal Stenosis in Edmonds, WA


Optimal Health Is Still Possible If You Have Spinal Stenosis

There are about 500,000 people in the United States who live with the symptoms of spinal stenosis. At Optimal Health Chiropractic and Massage Clinic in Edmonds, we see people who need the added support of chiropractic care to live well as they correct the disease. Here are answers to questions we are frequently asked about this condition.

Optimal Health Is Still Possible If You Have Spinal Stenosis

What is spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is a condition of progressive narrowing of the spinal canal, the tube inside your spine that allows nerves to pass through it. Stenosis is most common at the two ends of the spine, the cervical spine (neck) and the lumbar spine (just above your tailbones). Spinal stenosis can occur with and without herniated (ruptured) discs. Sometimes the spinal narrows so much that the lateral nerves that come off it are entrapped.

Who gets spinal stenosis?

Just about everyone has some narrowing of the spinal canal by the age of 60, but very few people develop troubling symptoms of the disease. Spinal stenosis due to aging seldom appears before the age of 50. The condition is somewhat more common in people of Asian heritage. Lumbar (lower back) spinal stenosis is more common in men than in women. Occasionally congenital spinal stenosis is a problem for children and teens.

What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis?

More often than not, spinal stenosis presents no symptoms at all. However, there will be a point at which the spinal canal becomes so narrow that nerve signal transmission becomes affected. When this happens, constant pain may occur and certain muscles may weaken. While back pain may become constant, there may also be a loss of sensation in the arms (when the cervical spine is narrow) or legs (when spinal stenosis affects the lower spine). Sometimes spinal stenosis interferes with the transmission of nerve signals to the bladder and bowel so that urine retention and constipation result.

What happens if I don't get treatment for spinal stenosis?

Once the pain starts, it tends to get worse. It only takes a minor injury to trigger disabling symptoms such as central cord syndrome or cauda equina syndrome. With central cord syndrome, there can be loss of sensation and motion in the arms and hands. With cauda equina syndrome, there can be low back pain that radiates down the leg, a loss of sensation around the anus, and loss of bladder and bowel control.

What can my chiropractor in Edmonds do to help with spinal stenosis?

A report from the United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reveals that 13 to 14 percent of people who have lower back pain also have some degree of spinal stenosis. Your chiropractor is an expert not just in treating but also in recognizing diseases of the spine. You'll get early detection and treatment at your chiropractor. 

Schedule an Appointment Today!

Chiropractic care has relieved the pain of spinal stenosis and restored walking and bowel and bladder control. Avoid needless suffering. If you have spinal stenosis, or you think you have spinal stenosis, make an appointment with your chiropractor in Edmonds today. You can call us at (425) 361-1839!

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