Spinal Stenosis

Excerpts from the entry on Spinal Stenosis in Relieving Pain Naturally by Dr. Sylvia Goldfarb and Roberta W. Waddell. For full entries on all 37 conditions and 27 treatments, order the book.

Your spinal canal is a narrow passage about as wide as your thumb that surrounds the entire length of your spinal cord, from your brain to the tip of your lower spine. It is the function of the vertebral bones that comprise the backbone (the vertebrae) to surround the canal and protect the spinal cord. If, however, the spinal canal becomes pinched, usually because one of the discs between the vertebrae bulges out and creates pressure on it, a condition known as spinal stenosis can develop, primarily in the lumbar (lower back) region of the spine.

Also in this entry:

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Diagnosing the Problem
• Conventional Treatments
• Problems with Some Conventional Treatments
• Self-Help Alternative Treatments

See below for full list of all conditions and treatments in the book. Or, download a complete Condition entry or Treatment entry for free.