Last month, we started a series on low back
pain (LBP) in the geriatric population, and we discussed osteoarthritis (OA)
and degenerative disk disease (DDD). As reported last month, this group of
conditions often co-exist in this population, so we will continue this
discussion this month…
A unique condition associated with
OA and DDD is called “spinal stenosis”
(SS). Stenosis means “narrowing,” and it
applies to two locations in the spine: 1) The holes through which the nerves in
our neck and back exit out of the sides of the spine (called “intervertebral
foramen” or, IVF); and, 2) The “spinal canal” through which the spinal cord
travels. When narrowing occurs on the sides of the spine where the nerves exit,
it’s called, “lateral spinal stenosis.” When the spinal canal narrows, it’s
called “central spinal stenosis.” Our spinal cord starts up in the neck as an
extension off the brain stem and usually ends at the junction between the
middle and lower back (around T12/L1) with the “cauda equina” (which literally
means, “horses tail”) and extends downward. The cauda equina is made up of many
nerves that travel down and exit out the sides of the lumbar spine (through the
IVFs) and sacrum (tail bone) and transfer information (motor and sensory) to
and from our legs and brain. When the size of the canal through which these
nerves travel close down or narrow enough, sufferers will initially start
feeling vague symptoms of leg heaviness or fatigue after walking for 30 or more
minutes. As years pass and the IVFs or central canal become gradually more
narrow, it may get to the point where a person can only walk a short distance
because their legs, “…just won’t move.” A classic complaint of SS is only being
able to walk for four to five minutes prior to needing to sit down for 30
seconds to a few minutes (usually five minutes at the most) after which time
the leg complaints resolve and the process repeats itself. When the nerves are
compressed in these tight canals and the legs become heavy and hard to move,
the term, “neurogenic claudication” is used. Another “classic” finding of SS is
that RELIEF occurs when the patient bends forward, such as on a grocery cart
or, simply stopping and bending over can be immediately relieving in many
cases.
Chiropractic adjustments and other
techniques are often very helpful in these cases if it is not too far advanced.
The good news is that it usually helps, so prior to considering surgery or
injections for this, give chiropractic a
try – it’s less invasive and safer. We can always refer you to the next
step if the condition becomes too advanced and/or if the results become less
satisfying.
Compression fractures are another common
cause of back pain in the elderly population. They're often caused by minor
trauma in the presence of poor bone density (osteoporosis) which accounts for
about 700,000 of the 1.5 million osteoporotic fractures. Interestingly, many
patients do not know what they did to cause these fractures so only 25-30%
actually go to doctors and have this positively diagnosed (by x-ray). Treatment
varies depending on what the percentage of fracture occurred (a little vs. a
lot), and in unstable cases, a procedure called kyphoplasty (where cement is
injected into the collapsed vertebral body) may be appropriate. As chiropractors,
we can help this population by offering nutritional counseling to improve bone
density and often provide symptomatic relief with adjustments (low force types)
and other modalities.
We realize you have a choice in whom
you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your
trust in choosing our service for those needs.
If you, a friend, or family member requires care for back pain, we would
be honored to render our services.
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