Foraminal stenosis is a common condition of the lower back, which can cause painful symptoms and pain due to spinal nerve compression due to the narrowed spinal pathway. At each level of the vertebral body, a series of small nerves runs from the brain down the back to small openings in the spinal column known as foramina. In the case of the lumbar spine, there are five foramina per side but in the cervical spine, there are four foramina.
Foramen wall problems occur when the foramina become too narrow due to wear and tear. The result is stenosis of the spinal cord. This occurs when the spinal cord becomes narrowed due to bone spurs and herniations. When you have spinal stenosis, your spinal cord will not be able to move through the opening to the brain properly, causing a feeling of numbness, tingling, weakness or even a loss of sensation. For those who have the condition, it is very difficult to move any part of the body and sometimes even the arms or legs.
The pain associated with this condition is worse on one side than the other. The pain can vary in intensity depending upon the position of where you have stenosis and your muscle tone.
Because this condition is caused by pressure on the spinal cord, medication is usually required. Medications used to treat stenosis of the spinal cord include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDS. These drugs are known to relieve inflammation and decrease stiffness.
Some doctors will suggest surgery, while others will recommend other forms of treatment, such as physical therapy. There are also times when surgical options need to be considered to ensure that you do not need surgery and do not develop spinal stenosis again.
Many types of exercises have been designed to help reduce the physical stress on your body and improve your ability to function better in the event of spinal stenosis. Yoga is one such type of exercise. It will help you strengthen your core muscles, relieve tension from your back muscles, stretch your muscles, and improve your posture.
It's also important to drink enough water to make sure your body is getting all the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants it needs to function at optimal levels. This is because without all of these essential nutrients, your body cannot properly cleanse your blood and toxins are excreted by the kidneys.
You can also make changes to your diet to help reduce stress and body pain
Drinking plenty of water and eating foods rich in protein and magnesium is beneficial for improving your health and relieving pain. Foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and other antioxidants are good for strengthening and repairing intervertebral discs.
If none of these options work, it might be time to consult with your doctor about surgery, but don't stop trying. You can also do some of the things mentioned above to improve your spine disease and relieve symptoms.
Chiropractic treatment has also been found to be beneficial for spinal stenosis. A trained chiropractor will use a variety of manipulation techniques to help relieve back pain.
Spinal cord manipulation is one such type of manipulation. This type of manipulation is performed on the cervical spine by applying slow and light pressure to this area.
Since chiropractic care will involve using a combination of spinal manipulation and exercise, many patients find that it is an effective method of treating their symptoms and pain. The chiropractor will also recommend medications to help ease pain and stiffness and to help improve your posture.