Spinal stenosis is a condition that can cause pain and weakness in the back and lower extremities. In this physical therapy education article, we are going to discuss spinal stenosis and how physical therapy can be an effective treatment option.
What is Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is a condition marked by the narrowing of the spinal canal. Stenosis in the spine can occur for a number of reasons, including injury to the spine or wear and tear as the body ages over time.
Here are some of the common symptoms of spinal stenosis:
- Pain in the back, legs, or buttocks
- Tingling or numbness in the back
- Loss of sensation
- Cramping and muscle weakness
Stenosis Treatment Options
Effective treatment of spinal stenosis requires (first and foremost) an accurate diagnosis from your physician or physical therapist. The symptoms of stenosis are similar to a lot of other conditions and injuries, so it’s important to land on a diagnosis first before moving forward with treatment. Depending on the severity of the stenosis, a wide variety of treatments may be applicable. Typically treatment starts with conservative methods like physical therapy, pain medication, and injection therapy.
If the stenosis is putting any of the spinal nerves in danger, a minimally invasive surgical procedure may be necessary. After the procedure, physical therapy can significantly help boost recovery and reduce pain.
Twin Cities Physical Therapy
At OrthoRehab Specialists, our Minnesota physical therapy experts have nearly three decades of experience treating patients in the Twin Cities. We have standing referral relationships with over 600 providers who regularly send their patients to us for continued rehabilitation care. If you don’t have a prescription from a referring physician, that’s OK too! We offer direct access to physical therapy in Minnesota so you can make your appointment with or without a referral. Give us a call today to set up your appointment with one of our Twin Cities physical therapists at our Edina or Minneapolis clinics.