Treatment

• Lumbar stenosis is normally treated first with exercise and anti-inflammatory medications. Your physician may prohibit certain types of movement, lifting or activity and may add epidural injections to relieve pain. If sciatica pain is not relieved, surgery may be the next level of treatment.
  
  Most people instinctively reduce activity when coping with back pain. Actually, exercise promotes healing of sciatic pain far more effectively than simply resting the muscles. Temporary bed rest may be prescribed, but resting too long can aggravate sciatica. Exercise and activity strengthen back and spinal muscles, tendon, ligaments and bones and increase back support. Exercise also prevents deconditioning of muscles and improves spinal disk health and strength.
  
  

Strengthening Exercises

• Strengthening the lower abdomen is critical for lumbar spinal stenosis. Start by lying on your back and pressing your lower back against the floor. Tighten your lower abdominal muscles and pull your belly button in and up for 10 seconds. Repeat 8 to 10 times.
  
  Curl-ups strengthen the lower abs. Fold your arms across your chest while lying on the floor. Flatten your back by pressing down with your lower abs. Next raise your head and shoulders off the floor. Hold the position for two to four seconds, then slowly drop back to the starting position. Work your way up to 10 curls.
  
  An exercise called the hook-lying march is recommended for severe sciatica. Lie on your back , lift your legs 3 to 4 inches from the floor, alternately raising and lowering each leg as though walking. March for about 30 seconds, wait 30 seconds then march again for 30 seconds more. Repeat two or three times.
  
  

Stretching Exercises

• Rebuilding flexibility in the lower back muscles calls for exercises which gently stretch the muscles of the lower back. Back flexion is performed lying on your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Gently grasp your knees and pull them toward your chest until you feel the muscles stretch. Don't pull so hard that it hurts. Hold this position for 30 seconds, then slowly let your knees back down to the starting position. Repeat four to six times. As you strengthen your back, gradually stop using your hands to assist your knees.
  
  The next exercise in the series calls for you to get down on your hands and knees. Sit back on your heels with your chest down and arms outstretched. Don't bounce. Hold this position for 30 seconds then slowly return to your hands and knees. Again, aim for four to six repetitions.
  
  

Working With the Doctor

• Before starting any exercise program, be sure to visit your doctor and make sure it's okay. Be very careful that you get a correct diagnosis for your particular brand of sciatica as each type has its own set of exercises and specific order and intensity, depending on what's causing your nerve pain. Follow the recommendation of your physician or physical therapist to avoid aggravating your pain by doing the wrong exercises. Do not self-treat sciatic pain. You can do more damage than good if you choose the wrong exercises.