With age, comes experience, wisdom, and a long list of health complications. No matter how healthy we are, once we hit 60, the ability to ward off every illness in the book becomes less feasible. As our bones weaken and the probability of accidents increase, back problems such as spinal stenosis turn into a reality for many.

Affecting primarily the lumbar and cervical areas of the spine, spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal (which is composed of nerves and the spinal cord itself), begins to compress. While the narrowing itself does not cause extreme pain, the pressed nerve endings inflict discomfort. People afflicted with lumbar spinal stenosis are likely to experience pain and sometimes numbness in their back and legs. With cervical spinal stenosis cases, the symptoms are generally more severe. This pain can occur in their arms, legs and even cause imbalance.

Spinal stenosis targets many older victims, as it is a medical condition that derives from weak bones or illnesses such as osteoarthritis. When we age, our bones begin to calcify and lose some of its cushion that protects the area. As a result, it becomes more challenging to walk long distances as your agility is impaired. While some are born with it, women who are over 50 tend to be primary targets.  If you are suffering from painful spinal stenosis, it is recommended that you look at all of your options. Older patients are not likely to go with surgery as an option. However, there are plenty of beneficial and non-invasive treatments that could eliminate some of the pain.

Spinal decompression therapy, for example, is one treatment that is pain-free. It requires the patient to lay on a table hooked up to a harness and receive pressure to their spine. This pressure actually creates a vacuum effect, tugging the discs apart, allowing them to gain flexibility and stretch out. By decompressing this area, vital nutrients and blood supply re-enter, which allows the spine to heal. The result allows greater mobility and the likelihood of pain and muscle spasms are minimized. In terms of recovery, those with spinal stenosis may only experience partial recovery which means pain is somehow alleviated, unlike those with herniated discs wherein full recovery is achievable. Nevertheless, this makes a lot of difference. Most patients need to undergo 4-5 sessions per week for a minimum of twenty sessions.

In addition to spinal decompression therapy, those with spinal stenosis can also benefit from exercise. Depending on your flexibility, many would recommend Pilates, Yoga or perhaps a physical therapy driven routine. Exercises that pinpoint your back pain are key to the healing process. If you are still struggling, you may also want to ask your physician about medications. Cortisone shots give temporary relief in muscle spasms. Regardless of what you choose, there are many methods to tackle spinal stenosis. If we could reduce just some of the pain in our lives, living into our 100’s would certainly be a walk in the park.

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Many people with nerve damage often think it is a muscle strain. They will treat themselves with Tylenol or another painkiller. The cramping may continue, despite treating oneself with aspirin or other anti-inflammatory. But, this treatment may not always work. The idea that nerve damage could be the problem is frightening to consider, and a first response is that the pain cannot be Sciatica, but must be something else.

Many people will suffer from symptoms of lower back pain at various points in there life. Often it is nothing serious and only temporary. However, if the pain is ongoing and does not seem to subside you may in fact have symptoms of sciatica.

Leg Pains

While a lack of potassium or a simple “Charlie-Horse” may be to blame for leg cramps, this can also be a symptom of Sciatica. While you may not be able to alleviate any numbness you may feel in your feet, there are several exercises you can do to lessen the cramping in your legs. The first order of business, however, if you are having repeated instances of cramping, is to see your physician to determine whether the problem is being caused by Sciatica. Knowing that Sciatica is the cause can establish the stretching and exercises that will be most likely to help you ease the discomfort you are feeling.

Buttock and hips aches

If you suspect that you have a disease called Sciatica, it is best that you visit your doctor and have a check up. Usually at the beginning, Sciatica causes you to have pain in the leg, which sometimes affects your foot. Gradually that pain moves up your body. You may experience a sharp pain through your body that goes down into your thighs and hips. Those pains may sometimes be quite severe and sometimes not. It is also common when you have Sciatica to experience aching in the hips while either walking or sitting. This pain, because it may not be severe, is usually ignored but it may well be a symptom of Sciatica. This disease is quite common, and so if you experience any of these symptoms, it is advisable that you visit your doctor for a diagnosis and get medication for it, or you may simply discuss it with your doctor to ensure you don’t have Sciatica.

If you have the symptoms of sciatica, first go to your doctor and find whether it is sciatica or not. Be careful of medications suggested by the doctor because there is ways to sure this the natural way.

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