On this episode of *A Second Opinion*, a sports medicine podcast, Dr. Pawen Dhokal and Dr. Dustin Glass break down spinal stenosis: what it is, why it happens, and how chiropractors should approach it.
They cover:
- The difference between central canal stenosis and narrowing where the nerve exits (the foramen), with a paper towel roll analogy
- Common causes: bone spurs, disc bulges, and swelling after an injury
- Why canal stenosis in the neck calls for extra caution, and the signs of cord compression to watch for, such as hand clumsiness, balance changes and weakness
- How to decide whether to adjust, using extra imaging and a case-by-case approach
- Real patient cases, including one where severe neck stenosis showed up as leg symptoms
- Why "it's just arthritis" or "age-related" doesn't fully explain new symptoms
- The question to ask of any MRI: are we treating the person or the image?
- Setting honest recovery expectations with patients in pain
- Spinal hygiene, daily movement and why it's never too late to build strength and mobility
*This episode is for education and isn't medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider about your own symptoms.*
Available on all platforms including Apple & Spotify.
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Dustin GlassHost
Pawen DhokalHost
