Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can help reduce pain in patients with spinal stenosis. In the best case, back-friendly movement is promoted and efficient strengthening of the trunk muscles (back and abdominal muscles) is achieved. Often the affected patients suffer from severe limitations and pain.
For a successful physiotherapy, additional pain therapy is therefore often necessary. Additional passive treatments such as fango-, thermotherapy or other physical approaches can be useful as a supplement. However, passive treatment alone, where the patient does not have to be active himself, is not promising.
In principle, physiotherapy cannot achieve a cure. Nevertheless, exercises and training can lead to pain relief, more movement and a higher quality of life. The advantage is also the conservative approach (no surgery). It is important to continue the learned exercises at home in order to achieve a permanent muscle build-up.
Osteopathy
Osteopathy can be performed as a complementary treatment for patients with spinal canal stenosis.In osteopathy the whole body is considered. It is assumed that the disorder of muscles, ligaments and joints also leads to restrictions of the internal organs. The focus is not only on spinal canal stenosis but the entire complex of problems is considered. A sole osteopathic therapy usually does not lead to a satisfactory result, but an osteopathic treatment can alleviate symptoms and promote self-healing. If you are interested in a therapy, it is best to discuss this with the treating physician or orthopedic surgeon so that possible physiotherapy, pain therapy, orthodox medicine and osteopathy can contribute in parallel and in a coordinated manner to improving the condition.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is classified in the group of alternative medicine. There are some positive studies on the effectiveness of acupuncture for certain diseases or symptoms. In Germany, the costs of acupuncture for chronic pain of the lumbar spine and chronic knee pain (and if certain conditions are met) have been covered by the statutory health insurance companies for several years.
Physicians can take the additional training course in acupuncture and then apply it professionally. There are some general practitioners who have this additional qualification and can answer questions. During acupuncture, special needles are placed at specific points that run along so-called meridians. This is supposed to make the flow of energy run more smoothly again. For different symptoms, causes and localizations of pain, different points of puncture are used.
