Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spine narrows over time. Sometimes this narrowing can occur to such a degree that it squeezes or compresses the spinal cord or nerve roots. This can result in pain in the neck, back, arms, legs, and hands. But what kind of spinal stenosis prevention steps can you take in order to help prevent this painful condition from occurring?
Like many age-related spinal conditions, spinal stenosis occurs as a result of changes to your spine over time – often due to normal wear and tear – and simply cannot be prevented. In rare cases, individuals can be born with spinal stenosis. However, there are a number of general spine health tips you can use to maintain the overall wellness of your spine and aid in preventing spinal stenosis – or keep it from getting worse. For instance, the pain, numbness, and weakness spinal stenosis causes can make it much easier to lose your balance and fall, which can result in serious back or neck injury that worsens your spinal stenosis. The following tips can help you avoid falls, as well as help keep spinal stenosis from negatively impacting your life.
Spinal Stenosis Tips
- Don’t smoke – Research has linked smoking to back pain and a weakening of intervertebral discs, which can lead degenerating discs that ultimately can cause a narrowing of spinal canals. Smoking also decreases bone density and makes vertebral fractures and deterioration more likely.
- Be careful with medications – Only take medications prescribed by your doctor and be cautious with sedatives as they can cause dizziness and increase the risk of falling. Also, limit your use of alcohol.
- Remove obstacles – Keep your home free of clutter or slipper conditions that can result in falls, and wear well-fitting, low-heeled shoes that can help you keep your balance.
Spinal Stenosis Treatment
Since spinal stenosis prevention isn’t always possible, the next step is to learn more about the treatment options available to you. There are a number of potential treatments for spinal stenosis, and they can range in their scope. Many treatments are as simple as maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly, taking certain medications, going through physical therapy, and more. However, surgical procedures can be an option for certain individuals with spinal stenosis. If you’d like to learn more about spinal stenosis prevention, as well as treatment options to help combat the resulting pain, weakness, and numbness, contact Laser Spine Institute today.
