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Discover an Effective Non-Surgical Treatment for Spinal Stenosis

Chiropractic care at Intouch Chiropractic is a non-invasive, all-natural treatment option for alleviating spinal stenosis in San Diego. If you’re suffering from spinal stenosis in your low back, mid back, or neck, consider NUCCA chiropractic care at Intouch Chiropractic as a safe treatment option. Our goal is to not only make sure you get relief now, but also to help you optimize your overall health and vitality far into the future. Stenosis often accompanies other symptoms that respond well to chiropractic care, such as back pain, neck pain, and joint stiffness. Our upper cervical chiropractors focus on body balance and helping patients manage all their symptoms, treating the root causes to provide lasting relief.

Relief From Spinal Stenosis

There is no cure for spinal stenosis, but many San Diego patients get pain relief with the Intouch Chiropractic team’s gentle, non-surgical approach. Our spinal experts take a thorough health history, analyze any previously taken radiographs and MRI images, and determine if you are a candidate for our enhanced spinal care program. Many patients experience improved spinal flexibility and decreased pain. We successfully treat many patients with our unique combination of state-of-the-art spinal decompression technology (DRX9000) and NUCCA Spinal Care.

It is important to keep in mind that patients with advanced stenosis may require surgery if the spinal cord is compromised. Arthritis of the spine is progressive, even after surgery, and it is not uncommon to develop new symptoms years after surgery, either at the same level or at nearby levels requiring a second or third surgery. Maintaining your spine after you have been diagnosed will require time and effort on your part to stay healthy – and we are prepared to help with that as well.

Get Answers About Spinal Stenosis Pain

Central canal stenosis is a narrowing of the canal that houses the spinal cord. Narrowing of the canal in the low back is called lumbar spinal stenosis. Narrowing of the canal in the neck is called cervical spinal stenosis. If you have received any of these spinal stenosis diagnoses, the doctors at Intouch Chiropractic are prepared to provide expert, gentle treatment for spinal stenosis in San Diego.

In essence, the spinal canal is a hole down the center of your spinal column. Your spinal cord floats in cerebrospinal fluid and lives in this space. Your spinal cord is a key part of your central nervous system, responsible for sending messages to and from your brain. The average central canal size is 14 mm wide. However, the spinal cord and soft tissue occupy approximately 10 mm of the canal. Stenosis often accompanies lower back pain, neck pain, and sciatica and is diagnosed with advanced imaging.

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The Causes of Spinal Stenosis

This spinal narrowing can irritate the spinal cord itself or the nerve roots as they exit the spinal cord. As stenosis progresses, your spinal cord and its nerves are compressed or squeezed. The most common cause of spinal stenosis is the aging process and it is often found in patients over 50 years of age.

When spinal stenosis occurs in the neck, it is called cervical spinal stenosis. It can also happen in the lower back and is called lumbar spinal stenosis. The most common symptoms are pain, numbness, or muscle weakness in the legs, feet, or buttocks.

As we get older, our spinal bones may develop arthritis, ligaments that connect the vertebra may buckle and/or intervertebral discs may bulge or herniate. All of these degenerative changes can lead to spinal stenosis, which causes the space within the spinal canal to narrow. Spinal stenosis can occur at any level of the spine; however, it is more common in the lumbar spine and the cervical spine.

Some of the factors that cause spinal stenosis are:

  • Degeneration of tissues
  • Excessive bone growth (arthritis)
  • Thickening of tissue in the canal (such as ligaments or cartilage)
  • Herniated disc
  • Genetics (naturally narrow canal)
  • Sedentary lifestyle

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Neuroforaminal Stenosis and the Peripheral Nervous System

Spinal nerves exit the spine through openings on both the right and left sides of your spinal column through intervertebral foramina. Spinal nerves exit the foramen (opening) and travel to all areas of your body. Narrowing of these openings is called neuroforaminal stenosis. This type of stenosis impacts the peripheral nervous system.

The peripheral nervous system is made up of the nerves that branch off from the spinal cord. We have 31 pairs of spinal nerves: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal. One exits to the right, while another spinal nerve exits to the left at each level. Each pair exits the spinal cord and travels and innervates a specific area of your body. Very close to the spinal cord, each spinal nerve splits into two nerve roots. The dorsal nerve root enters the spinal cord and is made up of sensory fibers. The ventral nerve root leaves the spinal cord and is made up of motor fibers.

Peripheral nerves communicate with the central nervous system by detecting and relaying messages. Messages relating to temperature changes, sensation, muscle function, pain, joint, and body position, to name a few. The peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system are intimately interconnected, and spinal stenosis can affect either system.  For assistance with spinal stenosis in San Diego, please contact us.

Learn More About the Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis can affect any part of your spine, but in some cases, it can be 100% asymptomatic. Most patients that experience symptoms report the following:

  • Spinal Stiffness – Especially in the morning
  • Numbness – Into the arms or legs
  • Pain – Usually in the low back or neck
  • Sciatica – Shooting pain down the leg
  • Foot Drop – Painful leg weakness that causes loss of control of your foot
  • Difficulty Standing
  • Difficulty Walking
  • Neurogenic claudication – Cramping associated with prolonged walking or standing
  • Loss of Bladder or Bowel Control – If you experience this extreme symptom, you must go to the emergency room immediately for treatment.
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How Ed Overcame Back and Sciatica Pain

How Ed Overcame Back and Sciatica Pain - Intouch Chiropractic | San Diego, CA
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