Conservative Treatment
Summary
| Key Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Start with conservative treatment | This is the first step in most cases |
| Medications | Chosen based on pain type and stenosis type (guideline-recommended) |
| Exercise therapy | Supervised programs are more effective than self-guided exercise; can rival surgery in non-severe cases |
| Nerve block injections | Strong evidence for short-term relief; limited long-term effect; also used for diagnosis |
| Bracing and physical therapy | Evidence is limited, but corsets and TENS show promise (covered on this page) |
| Know the limits | If 3-6 months of treatment bring no improvement, consider other options |
Next Steps
Surgery -- Surgical options when conservative treatment is not enough
Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) -- Another treatment option beyond surgery