Total Health Systems

Spinal Stenosis Treatment in Macomb County

Spinal stenosis is the gradual narrowing of the spaces inside your spine that puts pressure on the nerves running through it—causing back or neck pain, leg weakness, numbness, or that hallmark feeling of needing to lean forward on a grocery cart to get relief. If you've had an MRI and stenosis was on the report, you're not alone, and you're not out of options. Surgery is rarely the first step. At Total Health Systems, our chiropractors, physical therapists, and medical team coordinate non-surgical treatment including spinal decompression, targeted strengthening, and posture correction to take pressure off the nerve, restore mobility, and help you walk further and stand longer without pain.

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Causes & Symptoms

Common Causes

  • Age-related wear and tear (most common)
  • Osteoarthritis and bone spurs
  • Herniated or bulging discs
  • Thickened spinal ligaments
  • Spinal injuries or fractures
  • Congenital narrow spinal canal
  • Degenerative disc disease

Signs & Symptoms

  • Lower back pain that improves when leaning forward
  • Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs
  • Difficulty walking long distances
  • Pain or cramping that improves when sitting
  • Sciatica-like pain down one or both legs
  • Neck pain with arm symptoms (cervical stenosis)
  • Loss of balance or coordination

Treatment Options for Spinal stenosis

Our multi-disciplinary approach addresses spinal stenosis from multiple angles for lasting relief.

Chiropractic

Improve spinal joint mobility and function with comprehensive and safe chiropractic care. Our personalized services are available to both adults and children.

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When to Seek Professional Care

If any of these describe what you're experiencing, an evaluation now usually means a shorter recovery later.

  • You've been diagnosed with stenosis and want non-surgical options
  • Walking distance has noticeably decreased
  • Numbness or weakness in your legs or arms
  • Pain that disrupts sleep or daily activities
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control (seek emergency care)
  • Symptoms are progressively worsening

Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal stenosis

Yes—for the majority of patients. Conservative treatment with chiropractic care, spinal decompression, physical therapy, and targeted exercise can significantly reduce symptoms and improve function.

Surgery is typically reserved for severe neurological symptoms that don't respond to other care.
Spinal decompression uses gentle, controlled traction to create space between the vertebrae, taking pressure off compressed nerves and discs. It's one of the most effective non-surgical treatments for stenosis-related pain.
The right exercises actually help—especially flexion-based movements that open the narrowed spaces in your spine. Our physical therapists prescribe stenosis-specific programs that build strength without aggravating symptoms.
No—though they often coexist and cause similar symptoms. A herniated disc is a specific structural problem with one disc; stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal or nerve openings overall.

Both can compress nerves, but the treatment approach differs. We'll evaluate which is driving your symptoms.
Leaning forward (like resting on a shopping cart) opens up the narrowed spaces in your spinal canal and takes pressure off the compressed nerves. It's actually a diagnostic clue—and we can build a treatment plan around restoring that relief without needing to lean over.

Related Conditions We Treat

Herniated disc

A herniated disc happens when the soft center of a spinal disc pushes through the outer layer and presses on nearby nerves—causing back pain, sciatica, neck pain, or numbness and weakness in the arms or legs.

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Sciatica

Sciatica is pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg.

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Lower back pain

Lower back pain affects 80% of adults at some point in their lives, making it one of the most common reasons people seek medical care.

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Ready to Start Your Spinal stenosis Treatment?

Don't let pain hold you back. Our expert spinal stenosis team is ready to help you feel better today.

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