spinal stenosis

[smallfeetz]

I have an client, male, age 74, who has spinal stenosis with weakening and atrophying legs. He has sought out all treatments, including acupunture (who told him she couldn't help him).

He has been coming to me for about 4 months, and although he generally feels better (more relaxed), and the pain in his glutes and legs subsides initially, it doesn't last. He has had "shots" which have and have not worked in the past.

His feet particular bother him - and as much as walking to get the circulation going is good, he has real difficulty with that (he uses a cane).

I am at a loss as to what I should do for him. Any suggestions?

 

[Karah?]

I see/have seen many people with spinal stenosis. But I don't "treat" the condition.

There is no way that you can do anything to help the stenosis - I am guessing that he has significant disk degeneration. Much of the pain is probably from the irritation of the nerve root. The affected areas will pretty much tell you which spinal nerves are involved.

As far as I am aware the only help that massage gives is to alleviate some of the muscle spasms that most people's bodies have to "protect" the area, increasing circulation, and some general relaxation.

 

[killer peaches]

Sadly, my experience has been the same as what squash_blsm has said. I can help some by relaxation and temporary pain relief and I am still trying to find a solution, but so far I am not seeing real improvement with any of my clients with spinal stenosis.

 

[ginkgo]

Well, I guess we've all had the same experience then, unfortunately. It seems that it is progressive with no hope for improvement. I really have a hard time accepting that, however. I guess I feel I should be doing more for this client, but all I can do is help him relax for a while until the pain returns. Very frustrating. :roll:

 

[kss0098]

Well, I guess we've all had the same experience then, unfortunately. It seems that it is progressive with no hope for improvement. I really have a hard time accepting that, however. I guess I feel I should be doing more for this client, but all I can do is help him relax for a while until the pain returns. Very frustrating. :roll:

It is frustrating ..... but there is always hope! Keep studying the structures, and keep trying different things based on your studies. Eventually one of us will be able to find something to help, and share that with the rest of us!

 

[gavilan_rood]

While this doesn't have anything specific to do with massage that helps spinal stenosis. I'm wondering if given his age is it possible to encourage him to explore some (((light))) work out routines that would help strengthen his core abdominal muscles? Anything he can do to strengthen his core muscles would help in alleviating pain as well as help the effectiveness of his massage sessions to last longer.

 

[Alexandra D]

The neurologist we work with regularly sends us clients diagnosed with spinal stenosis. However, they are generally neck related. We get good results. I'd think though your work is going to be more palliative than anything else.

Keep up the good work... he may show improvement with longer periods of lessened pain as he continues with care.

How often does he come in?

It's hard to say what you could do different, as you didn't quite say what you are doing now. Maybe you could give us some insight into your protocol?

 

[bubblegum36291]

The neurologist we work with regularly sends us clients diagnosed with spinal stenosis. However, they are generally neck related. We get good results. I'd think though your work is going to be more palliative than anything else.

Keep up the good work... he may show improvement with longer periods of lessened pain as he continues with care.

How often does he come in?

It's hard to say what you could do different, as you didn't quite say what you are doing now. Maybe you could give us some insight into your protocol?

What exactly do you do? Is he sending to you for massage or other treatment?

 

[Question Man]

What exactly do you do? Is he sending to you for massage or other treatment?

Depends on the case. Everyone is different. Anything in particular you are wondering? Maybe PM me, if you want to...

It is a "she", BTW... *winks*

 

[Micah M]

What I am asking is what kind of massage (specific techniques and locations) do you do for someone with spinal stenosis that causes "good results"? What exactly are the good results? Is the stenosis lessened? Are the legs stronger?

My clients with stenosis enjoy their massages and it "helps" in the sense that they feel a bit stronger for a few days afterwards, and just the fact that it feels good for awhile makes it worth it to them. But I don't see actual improvement. Some say they are sure the massage is slowing the deterioration, which is good, but I would love to find a way to help them have longer lasting strength and more ability to walk farther, have less tingling and more joint mobility. I'd like to see actual progress!

 

[Requiem]

Massage the area affected by the stenosis -
That clients area of stenosis is probably L4-L5 nerves - so one would massage legs and hips.

Techniques I use are swedish, myofascial, deep tissue type work when tolerated, and cranio-sacral.
As I said - there is nothing that I know of to affect the stenosis itself.
The narrowing where the nerve root exits is what causes the pain and/or dysfunction. You can't FIX the problem by massaging the area because that is not where the problem originates.
Your work is NOT going to create the changes that you are hoping for.

Good results are that the client feels better. And the results that you are seeing are probably as good as can be expected.
Keep doing what you are doing but be realistic about what is in your power to accomplish

What I am asking is what kind of massage (specific techniques and locations) do you do for someone with spinal stenosis that causes "good results"? What exactly are the good results? Is the stenosis lessened? Are the legs stronger?

My clients with stenosis enjoy their massages and it "helps" in the sense that they feel a bit stronger for a few days afterwards, and just the fact that it feels good for awhile makes it worth it to them. But I don't see actual improvement. Some say they are sure the massage is slowing the deterioration, which is good, but I would love to find a way to help them have longer lasting strength and more ability to walk farther, have less tingling and more joint mobility. I'd like to see actual progress!

 

[gahrahstah]

IN my book, good results are less pain, better mobility and the like for situations such as this. In most of the cases I work with , since they are neck cases, I generally see a substantial decrease in headaches.

I am not aware that the stenosis can be resolved with soft tissue work, so I would not expect that to be the situation.

I will remark that most times, in a case like this, I am working on the client for an hour to the affected areas (not full body, although I am sure it would be helpful) and that most of the work is deep tissue. Usually this is at a rate of once per week for a minimum of ten weeks.

 

[gottcha]

Sorry, squash_blsm, I should have said what I was asking of whom! I was wondering what pueppi considered "good results", and if that was something other than what we are seeing, how she is getting those results.

I see Pueppi has answered while I was working.

I know we can't affect the stenosis, itself, but to see a longer lasting improvement in the affected area is my hope. I can dream, right? :

Honestly, I'd love to see all my clients doing cartwheels out of the massage room, but as one pointed out to me, in that case, I shouldn't work with people with such severe injuries and with people in their 90s if I EXPECT to see cartwheels.....but I can still dream!!

My experience is as yours - that the stenosis I generally see is in the lumbar area.

 

[righteousjohnson]

I feel the same way Rose of Sharon does. My client comes in every two weeks for an hour. It seems that everything is affected with him - neck pain, tingling in right arm, lower back and down his legs, and his feet. He is constantly in pain.

I have made the suggestion that we focus on the area most involved to see if we could get more long-term relief, or go to the longer session to cover more areas of involvement.

I have been trying to address everything, in a general way. His legs are very thin and fragile, so I want to spend a good deal of time there, which he prefers, along with his feet. I think giving him a full body, relaxation massage, with some focus work, is what he is preferring.

He will be in tomorrow morning at 9:00.

 

[storys of are champion]

Honestly, I'd love to see all my clients doing cartwheels out of the massage room, but as one pointed out to me, in that case, I shouldn't work with people with such severe injuries and with people in their 90s if I EXPECT to see cartwheels.....but I can still dream!!

LOL :
Well - if they can't do the PHYSICAL cartwheels then let's just try for the inner or emotional cartwheels. They'll still love us!