HELP .Advice please for spinal stenosis?

Question

My condition can only be cured by surgery, which I cannot afford. After standing for a short time my right leg goes numb and I have to sit a while. Have other like -sufferrers advice on exercises or posture to help?

Answer 1

Spinal stenois, when not handled by surgery, can be managed (not cured) with some basic priciples. First, stenosis is characterized by pain with prolonged standing and walking and is typically relieved with sitting. This is because the upright posture compresses the central canal and neuroforamena through which the spinal cord and nerve roots pass, respectively.

Therefore, activity modification becomes of essense. Learn how to manage your tasks with frequent rest periods as the longer you stand, the more pain you will achieve. For general fitness, cycling and swimming are optimum choices for the compressive axial loading of the spinal is minimized with these activites (as opposed to walking).

Williams flexion exercises are often utilized to temporarily open the central canal. See the following link:
http://www.pains.com/Williams1.html
The effects of these, however, are temporary, but may "get you through your day."

Finally, for chronic stenosis, home traction units may be used on a daily basis. The following link provides a photo.
http://www.backbenimble.com/new/pages/saunders_traction/index.htm

These are just a few treatment suggestions...there are others as well. These are the ones I am most familiar with as a physical therapist. No one method works for everyone. Be sure to discuss any options with your doctor, and consider seeing a physical therapist if you are considering the above options.

Answer 2

I take tramadol and amitriptyline, but the pain never goes away, it spoils my life, I feel fed up most of he time, I try to walk, but it does hurt my back and leg.
Since taking amitriptyline am always tired, can anyone suggest anything else I could do to help the pain.