Spinal Stenosis-What has Worked or not Worked for our Viewers- Part III of a III Part Article on Stenosis
(10/20/06)- We at therubins received the following email from one of our viewers:
"how come on the articles with regard to spinal stenosis not a word mentioned about healthy eating, supplements, minerals etc. t.s."
Stenosis is a horrible disease that alters the afflicted individual's quality of life. You will try anything to alleviate the pain. As the article pointed out, I tried everything from acupuncture to painkillers, etc, In my case the spinal steroidal injection has alleviated the bulk of my pain. I do my stretching exercises, and so far it is under control.
In the email cited above, the viewer asks about eating right, dietary supplements, minerals, etc. We would appreciate anyone who has had experience with any of these items to email and tell us about your experience with it. We will withhold naming you, or even putting in your initials if so requested.
If you have any other possible suggestions as to a treatment that either helped or didn't help please let us know about it.
(10/23/06)- "At the age of 41 I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis.I have the same diagnosis a nd have had very good results after going thru physical therapist after therapist. One I have been with for two years has me do 20 mintues of traction(works well for me takes the tingling feeling out of my right foot), stiff has hell for a a couple of minutes after getting off the table. Then we do I believe they are called the "thomas"stretches on a stiff padded bed type equipment. Then a cybex rotary torso machine 3 sets of 10 on setting plate #4(extremely light weight)(however the machine is not used as it is normally intended to. I stand instead of sitting, lock the two pads in all the way to the left side then grab both of them while I am standing up almost perfectly straight, push on the one closest to me with my left hand and pull the other pad with my right hand, again very low weight 3 sets of 10. Eventually do a roman chair at about 45 degrees, put my hands on my chest and remain in that position for 30 seconds, rest then do do again, eventually work up to 60 seconds etc. Then a cybex mutlipositional hip machine. Has a pad that goes right above the knee, lift up tyowards the chest say 10 if you can on very low weight, then the other, eventually more sets. Also they have me seated on a office stool with wheels facing some kind of cybex adjustable pulley machine, in this situation the pulley is positioned about paralell with the chest. All I do is pull the "t" bar handle back towards my chest with both hands while trying to keep th rest of my body quiet. The purpose of the wheels is that it forces you to use your stomach muscles. Then on the same machine they put me seated on a exercise ball sideways to the machine and have me use one arm at a time, pulling across my chest. then the other side. Ball forces you to keep balance and work the abs. I am looking to eliminate this tingling in my foot all together. I was thinking of trying Chinese herbs in combination with the exercise program. I have great confidence in the pt center I attend. Geez just the other day I threw out a question to my therapist about my pal having a sacroiliac strain and by God the info he gave me I called my bud in Utica NY and asked him what the treatment program was that helped him for the first time in 6 months and you would have thought my pt guy was treating him. " TS
Please also see: Tips on How to
Keep Your Back Healthy
Low Back Pain" Does
Treatment Help
Spinal Stenosis- A Personal Chronicle
- Part I
Spinal Stenosis-Clinical Trials- Part
II
FOR AN INFORMATIVE AND PERSONAL ARTICLE ON PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS WHEN SELECTING A NURSING HOME SEE OUR ARTICLE "Selecting a Nursing Home"
latest submission 20, 2006
e-mail: hrubin12@nyc.rr.com or rubin@brainlink.com