LUMBAR STENOSIS
Dr. Marc Darrow, M.D.

Discussions from our radio show

From our radio show
CALLER: I am neurologist, I have a lot of patients that have lumbar stenosis with a lot of pain, weakness, and loss of balance. For various reasons, medical problems, they are not good surgical candidates or they do not want surgery.
 

Dr. Darrow: A lot of people by the time they get lumbar stenosis are older, and they are not that great a surgical candidate.

Lumbar Stenosis is an area in the low back right above the buttocks muscle where the vertebrae starts compressing down on the spinal cord because as we age, very often there is mobility in that lower back area and the bones can actually try to hypertrophy (to grow more bone.) In the facet joints, where we get stenosis, in the facet joints, between the vertebrae, what happens is when we age, and with over use or just arthritis, the area where the spinal cord is encased becomes very small or the areas where the spinal nerves where they come off the spinal cord and goes down the legs or arms, and become stenosed or small, and cause a type of sciatica.

What we do with these people is try to stabilize the spine, now if there is a smaller canal for the nerves to go through and the spinal cord to go through if there is motion and mobility in the vertebrae, any minor mobility is going to cause a problem of irritating the nerves and causing these funny feeling in the feet or loss of balance.

We align the spine with chiropractic, with strengthen the spine with MedX, the paraspinal muscles, and Prolotherapy which strengthen the ligaments that support the vertebrae. Sometimes we found what works very well for spinal stenosis or cervical stenosis in the neck is very simple traction. By putting a belt around the abdomen and the legs, we can kind of stretch the vertebrae apart and let these nerves heal up a little bit.

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Patient's stories herein, and the language used, is intended to inform and educate. HOWEVER, it does not imply that you or anyone else will receive the same outcome.

Prolotherapy and other modalities mentioned are medical techniques that may not be considered mainstream. As with any medical procedure, results will vary among individuals, and there could be pain or substantial risks involved. These concerns should be discussed with your health care provider prior to any treatment so that you have proper informed consent and understand that there are no guarantees to healing.

Neither Dr. Darrow, nor any associate of DARROW WELLNESS INSTITUTE offer medical advice on this website. This information is offered for educational purposes only. Do not act or rely upon our information without seeking independent professional medical advice. The transmission of this information does not create a physician-patient relationship between you and Dr. Darrow or any associate of DARROW WELLNESS INSTITUTE. Neither Dr. Darrow, nor any associate of DARROW WELLNESS INSTITUTE guarantees the accuracy, completeness, usefulness, or adequacy of any resources, information, apparatus, product, or process available at or from this transmission. The photos in this Web site feature models for illustrative purposes and do not depict real patients.

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