No, you may not have to have surgery.
The orthopaedic experts at the Bone & Joint Center take a conservative approach to care whenever possible.
In April 2015, the Annals of Internal Medicine reported that physical therapy may be as effective as surgery for the treatment of low-back pain.
According to the Harvard Health Blog, the study followed 169 people who had consented to have surgery to resolve low-back pain caused by lumbar stenosis. Nearly half of the candidates agreed to delay the surgical procedure to work with a physical therapist and a specialized physical therapy program.
Two years after the study, the results of the two groups were similar. The people who chose physical therapy had nearly the same level of improvement in pain and physical function as the people who had had the surgery.
What is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a condition described as a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back. It causes sciatic-like pain in the groin, buttocks and upper thigh. The condition also makes it uncomfortable to stand, walk or lean back while sitting.
If you have lumbar spinal stenosis, Dr. Hackett, Bone & Joint Center’s orthopaedic surgeon, can assess your condition and recommend the best treatment options for you. He will be able to determine whether your condition can be treated with specialized physical therapy.
