Spinal Decompression Provides Relief from Stenosis without Surgery

Article by bsullivan

Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spine canal narrows and compresses the nerves of the spinal cord. Dr. David Nygaard treats patients for an array of pain and spinal issues at Atlas Family Chiropractic in Asheville, NC. He says that, “Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal openings in one or more of three locations, in the center of the spinal canal, where the nerves branch from the spinal cord or in the space between the vertebrae. This causes pressure on the spinal nerves, leading to irritation, inflammation and pain.”

Nygaard adds that “Spinal stenosis affects the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine and sometimes several places at the same time.”

Spinal Stenosis Symptoms

Like many spinal conditions that impair proper nerve function, spinal stenosis can develop without symptoms. Symptoms can develop gradually and worsen over time. Symptoms include: pain in the back and/or neck, numbness, tingling or radiating pain in the extremities and muscle weakness in the extremities.

Causes of Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is often a common occurrence of spinal degeneration that occurs as people age. Degeneration is associated with disc bulging, spinal joint enlargement, the development of bone spurs and the thickening or buckling of ligaments. Stenosis can also be caused by spinal disc herniation, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, injuries or trauma, ligament thickening or the presence of a tumor.

In the cervical (neck) and lumbar (low back) region it can be a congenital condition.Disc herniation is the displacement of the center of a vertebral disc through a crack in the outer layer. Disc herniation can put pressure on the nerves causing irritation, inflammation and pain.

Individuals born with a narrow spinal canal or who experience trauma to their spine may develop spinal stenosis earlier than those who develop it due to degeneration due to aging. People who are genetically predisposed to hypertrophic osteoarthritis and/or have an abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis) may also develop spinal stenosis.

Compression Causes Problems

Dr. Nygaard explains that the pinching or compression of spinal nerves and blood vessels leads to health issues, including pain. “Stenosis in the lower back can lead to a condition called cauda equina syndrome that results from compression within the spinal canal.

Spinal compression causes leg pain or numbness, back pain, abnormal sensation in the extremities including the legs, thigh, buttocks and feet and loss of bladder or bowel control and problems having sex.

Non-Surgical Options

If this degenerative disease progress far enough, chiropractic care is no longer a viable treatment. In the past, this left surgery as the remaining option. Dr. Nygaard and others are beginning to treat spinal compression with spinal decompression therapy.

Spinal decompression is a non-surgical and drug-free alternative for disc-related syndromes of the lumbar or cervical spine. Many patients have found relief from pain associated with herniated discs, bulging discs, facet syndrome, degenerative joint disease, pinched nerves, and other spinal afflictions with the application of decompression therapy. Spinal Decompression uses computer-aided technology to apply gentle, non-surgical decompression to the spine. This increases circulation into the spinal discs and joints helping to relieve the symptoms that cause pain.

Spinal decompression helps relieve symptoms of spinal stenosis. “As spinal discs are decompressed, it can relieve bulges that irritate nerves. Nerve irritation and inflammation can lead to a myriad of health problems, many of which are healed by the body once the compressive forces are removed from the nerve,” says Nygaard. Spinal decompression therapy can relieve nerve pressure associated with lower back pain and diseases like spinal stenosis and sciatica. It enlarges diminished disc space and allows for re-hydration and the influx of vital nutrients. When the spine is properly aligned the surrounding nerves and blood vessels are not pinched the nervous system and body can begin to heal and function properly, often times relieving the associated pain. Bold words changed

For more information Visit:http://atlasfamilychiropractic.net

About the Author

Chris WingateFreelance journalist, outdoorsman and adrenalin junkie, Chris can be found exploring the forests of the South East where he is a white water raft guide on the French Broad River. When not wet or covered in mud Chris produces shows for his local public access TV station URTV and plays bass in an alt-country band “Hobos and Lace”. For more information Visit:http://atlasfamilychiropractic.net