What can I do to prevent lumbar spinal stenosis?
People usually ask this before anyone has told them which steps apply to them. Prevention is a question for your clinician, and what you gather first makes that talk more useful.
Prevention and who gets lumbar stenosis
Whether anything prevents lumbar spinal stenosis is a question for your clinician. Two facts about who gets it are useful background.
OrthoInfo (AAOS) says a small number of people are born with back problems that develop into lumbar spinal stenosis. MedlinePlus says spinal stenosis occurs mostly in people older than 50.
Age and the starting point
The first tells you that the starting point is not always something a person did. The second tells you that age is part of the picture. Neither is a plan, so treat them as background for your questions rather than as advice. The Spinal Stenosis page at MedlinePlus goes through the condition in plain language.
Steps to take before the appointment
- Write down any back problems you have had, including ones from long ago, and roughly when they started.
- Note your age and any family history you know of, so you can answer questions without guessing.
- List the questions you want answered, starting with what you can do about prevention in your own case.
- Ask the office what to bring. Typical items to ask about are a medication list and past imaging.
For wider background, the Pain page at MedlinePlus is a good starting point. If you live in or near Bloomfield, ask your office what to confirm locally.
Taking your list to a clinician
Take your list to a clinician and ask directly what, if anything, applies to you. Reading alone cannot tell you that, and it is better to hear it from someone who can examine you.