Is acupuncture successful in pain relief from lumbar spinal stenosis

@jfsherley Medicare advantage plans probably pay, but Original Medicare does not. I have supplemental insurance, that will pay if Medicare denies claims. I’m working through this right now. Crossing my fingers or all goes well for that submittal.
The best of luck to you. I’m thinking if stretching works , the acupuncture would help loosening muscles and that area. I had muscle spasms - we think from breast surgery - and I no longer have spasms. 💪🏼

@heyjoe415 thank you for the info on posture traction treatment. Posture is such an important element in resolving back/neck pain. Could you perform this position in your own?

I also need a Rod or 2 that’s why I haven’t done the surgery it’s a 6 hr surgery and I’m to old now . Plus my dad had rods put in and he was still in pain

Yeah I've heard of rods being placed in the spine and that just doesn't sound good to me. If I understand it correctly, it keeps the pine straight and it no longer can flex from side to side.

@delia74 I do not let chiropractors touch my neck or back. With my physical therapist, there were no spinal manipulations other that using a foam roller to mobilize the spine or a wooden body back roller which can rest vertebrae alignment at bit just by laying on it. That can hurt a little bit in the muscles, but you are just pressing the muscles next to the spine on wooden knobs and the spine vertebrae are not contacted because there is a V shaped space in the middle of the roller for it, so the muscles are pulling the spine back into alignment. My therapist also does myofascial release to release tension in muscles and fascia that is holding the body. Muscle tension can create the bulging discs by pulling on the vertebrae. I also do core strengthening, so the spine is better supported. All of that tends to keep the spine aligned as it should be and I saw the bulging disc change on a later mri that did not show a bulged disc where it had been bulging before and there was no mention of it by the radiologist report.

If you have a disc that is weakened, a spinal manipulation can rupture the disc. All I had to do to rupture my C5/C6 that had been injured by a whiplash years earlier was to turn my head when I was stretching and I heard it pop and my head suddenly turned past the prior range of motion. You don't really know if a disc is weak, and a chiropractor could have easily ruptured it with a manipulation. That was probably going to happen anyway because of the injury causing C5/C6 to bulge for years and changes with aging.

If you're interested, this is our discussion about Myofascial Release.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

Jennifer

Thanks for the link to myofascial release therapy. I saw a Chiro a year ago because of back pain. After a few sessions, I could hardly walk! Went to an orthopedic doctor, had an MRI and to my surprise, I have 3 bulging discs. Fortunately, he said I did not need surgery and they would probsbly not get worse. The point I am trying to make is that the chiropractor NEVER took X-rays or ask where on my back it hurts. He just cared about his manipulations. So, I say be very careful of chiropractors…they can do more harm than good.

Your right you can’t bend over anymore

Thanks for the link to myofascial release therapy. I saw a Chiro a year ago because of back pain. After a few sessions, I could hardly walk! Went to an orthopedic doctor, had an MRI and to my surprise, I have 3 bulging discs. Fortunately, he said I did not need surgery and they would probsbly not get worse. The point I am trying to make is that the chiropractor NEVER took X-rays or ask where on my back it hurts. He just cared about his manipulations. So, I say be very careful of chiropractors…they can do more harm than good.