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Most people over 50 are affected by spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column canal. As a result of severe spinal stenosis pain, patients are often restricted in their mobility, making it difficult to perform daily activities.  

Non-surgical treatment options for lumbar or cervical spinal stenosis include drugs/medications and/or therapeutic spinal injections, depending on the severity of your symptoms. By treating these symptoms, you can manage inflammation, pain, and other symptoms caused by compressed nerves.

Spinal stenosis treatment usually includes painkillers. Patients' symptoms may be alleviated with pain medications and physical therapy. Preventative measures, such as exercise and over-the-counter medications, are generally suggested before surgery.

Best Painkiller for Spinal Stenosis

Best painkiller for spinal stenosis can be in the form of different dosage forms either Oral or IV depending on the severity of pain.

1- Oral Painkiller for Spinal Stenosis

A physician may prescribe the best painkiller for spinal stenosis to relieve nerve compression pain. NSAIDs are considered the best painkiller for spinal stenosis.

• Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce inflammation in the spine and nerve roots. Occasionally, NSAIDs provide analgesia and reduce inflammation at high doses and are first-line agents for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). For anti-inflammatory benefits, NSAID plasma levels must be therapeutic. The analgesic efficacy of NSAIDs is dose-dependent, with higher doses not providing further pain relief.

NSAIDs include:

• Aspirin

• Ibuprofen 

• Naproxen

Benefits:

• It is easy to take home medications at home. You may choose from a variety of forms that fit your needs like pills, creams, or patches.

• Within 5 to 10 minutes, you will feel a noticeable difference in your pain level.

Side Effects:

• Due to its irreversible binding to cyclooxygenase and the need for higher doses for effective inflammation control, aspirin may cause gastritis. 

• Further, it can lead to renal dysfunction, peptic ulcers, and gastrointestinal dysfunction.

2- Oral Muscle Relaxants for Spinal Stenosis

Baclofen, cyclobenzaprine, and methocarbamol are the most effective options as pain relievers and muscle relaxants. 

• Cyclobenzaprine

The action of cyclobenzaprine on the brain results in the relief of muscle spasms that may be caused by musculoskeletal conditions. 

Benefits:

It may be beneficial to patients suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis to reduce pain and improve function with its use.

• Baclofen

Antispasmodic drugs, such as Baclofen, can treat muscle spasms caused by spinal cord disorders, such as lumbar spinal stenosis. Food and Drug Administration approval has been granted for this drug to treat muscle spasticity resulting from spinal conditions.

Benefits:

Baclofen influences spinal nerves, which:

• Ease pain

• Improves movement

• Loosens stiff muscles

• Methocarbamol

Methocarbamol relieves pain and muscle spasms by blocking pain signals from entering the brain. 

Benefits:

As opposed to other muscle relaxants, it is less sedating and has a lower likelihood of abuse.

Side effects of Muscle Relaxants:

Side effects of muscle relaxants include:

• Sleepiness 

• Constipation

• Fatigue

• Dry mouth

• Nausea

More serious side effects include:

• Lightheadedness or fainting

• Urinary retention

• Blurred vision

• Confusion

If you experience any serious side effects, contact your physician immediately.

3- Injections For Spinal Stenosis

Many medications have the same effect as certain injections. Spinal doctors, including pain physicians in Dallas, treat spinal stenosis in two basic ways:

• Corticosteroids

• Nerve block

• Corticosteroids

You may administer an injection directly to the spinal cord, known as an epidural injection. The effects of steroids are similar to those of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Specialists such as anesthesiologists perform injections.

• Epidural Steroid Injections

Injections of epidural steroids are commonly used to treat lower back pain caused by inflammation in the spinal nerves. It is believed that corticosteroids relieve the pain associated with spinal stenosis by removing the proteins responsible for inflammation.

Typically, a physician will allow his or her patients to receive only two or three injections per year. Using these injections excessively may result in tissue damage.

• Potential Side Effects of Steroid Spinal Injections

Steroids may cause significant side effects. Despite being rare, you should know and discuss the following risks with your physician:

• A feeling of discomfort at the injection site(s).

• Anxiety

• Decreased infection fighting ability

• Allergic reaction

• Weight gain

• Stomach ulcer

• Lightheadedness or fainting

• Difficulty sleeping

• High blood sugar (more so for diabetes patients)

• High blood pressure 

• Avascular necrosis is the result of damage to large joints, such as your hips

• Eye cataracts

• Bleeding excessively

• Permanent damage to nerves

• Nerve Block

The nerve block procedure involves the injection of an anesthetic near the damaged nerve. The response to these injections varies from person to person. A long period of relief may occur, a short period may occur, or you may not experience any relief at all.

• Facet Nerve Block

Spinal stenosis can be diagnosed using facet nerve blocks, and various symptoms that are related to the condition can be treated with this procedure. Physicians block the facet nerves by injecting local anesthetic and steroids under imaging guidance.

In order to relieve your symptoms, Depending on your symptoms, your pain doctor in Dallas may place a facet nerve block at a single level or at several levels along either side of your spine.

Side Effects:

• Blood sugar levels increase

• Blood loss 

• Allergy reactions

• Infections 

• A worsening of pain

• Damage to a nerve or spinal cord

Alternative Treatments for Spinal Stenosis

Acupuncture and chiropractic treatment are two of the most commonly used alternative therapies.

• Acupuncture

In order to alleviate pain, tiny, flexible needles are inserted into the body or specific parts are pressed.

• Physical Therapy

An effective non-surgical treatment for spinal stenosis is physical therapy. Exercises, stretching, and alternative therapies such as heat and cold therapy, electrical stimulation, and heat/cold therapy relieve pressure on the spinal nerves.

• Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic adjustments reduce pain and improve spine movement. Additionally, some individuals use traction, which involves pulling bones apart to allow more room for nerves. Many people claim that traction helps them even though there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.

Here Are Some Tips For Medication Safety

• When you are not certain about an aspect of your drug regimen, talk to your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible.

• A doctor may prescribe one or more medications to manage the symptoms of spinal stenosis. Therefore, you may need to manage multiple medication schedules and doses.

• If you suffer from spinal stenosis, it is important to take your medication(s) as directed to relieve the pain.

• Ensure that you inform your physician about all medications you are currently taking, including over-the-counter (OTC) medications, vitamins, and other supplements.In this way, you and your physician can avoid drug interactions and adverse effects.

• Certain circumstances may necessitate avoiding or delaying spinal injections.

• People who are on blood thinning medications, diabetics, infected, or suffering from heart disease typically fall into this category.

Summary

It's difficult to cure spinal stenosis, but there are things you can do on your own, under your doctor's supervision. You can keep your lifestyle active by doing these things.