Harvard Study Finds Physical Therapy as Good as Surgery
By Debra Rodzinak
Patients who have been to their doctor and received a diagnosis of spinal stenosis should not rush into surgery, according to a new study recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. This study found that patients who had physical therapy for lower spinal stenosis received the same effects as those who underwent surgery. Since there are so many additional risks to surgery, patients suffering from spinal stenosis should definitely try physical therapy treatments, like spinal adjustments, first.
Physical Therapy Before Surgery
Dr. Jeffrey N. Katz, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, suggested, after the findings in the Annals of Internal Medicine were released, that all patients diagnosed by their physician with spinal stenosis should seek physical therapy before surgery. I couldn’t agree more.
I am not a fan of surgery. For me, undergoing anesthesia is an unpleasant business. I will have headaches for days afterwards and it sometimes takes weeks to feel like myself. Surgery also means downtime for recuperation and healing, sometimes taking weeks. Yes, I will absolutely try physical therapy first before rushing into any type of surgery.
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Chiropractic
The most common type of spinal stenosis is located in the lower back or lumbar region. Stenosis is a narrowing of a particular area. In lumbar spinal stenosis, this narrowing occurs between the space inside the lowest part of the spine. This narrowing around the delicate nerves around the spinal cord can cause tremendous pain for patients. Chiropractic care can relieve the pressure located in this area of the lower spine with gentle spinal adjustments.
Common Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
Some common symptoms of spinal stenosis are:
- Groin, buttock, and upper thigh pain not related to sciatica pain
- Pain from standing or walking that subsides when you sit or squat
- Intense pain from leaning back that subsides when leaning forward
If you have seen your doctor and been diagnosed with lower spinal stenosis, discuss your treatment options. Then, come to The Joint for a gentle spinal adjustment. The expert doctors at The Joint can help relieve your back pain.
With no pesky insurance forms to fill out or appointment times to remember, The Joint helps patients find relief from their back pain issues with a nonsurgical solution. Extended hours during the week and on the weekends provide patients with an easy alternative to surgery for their lower spinal stenosis problems.