Spinal stenosis can significantly impact your loved one’s quality of life, causing pain, discomfort, and mobility challenges. While symptoms may develop slowly, the condition often worsens over time, sometimes requiring advanced treatment options like surgery. During recovery, having the right support is crucial, and 24-hour home care can provide the assistance your loved one needs to heal comfortably and safely at home.
In this blog, we’ll explore spinal stenosis, its symptoms, and how to ensure proper care during recovery with 24-hour home care.
What is Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis occurs when an area (or areas) of the spine begins to narrow and cramp the spinal cord. That tightened space can cause nerves to become pinched, compressed, and irritated. It can affect anyone, but is more common in elderly individuals due to degenerative spinal changes that naturally occur with age. It is the most common condition causing those over 65 to need spinal surgery.
The condition generally affects one of two areas of the back – the lower back (lumbar) or the upper neck area (cervical).
General Spinal Stenosis Symptoms
The symptoms of spinal stenosis don’t only affect the back. Depending on the severity of the condition and where it is located, your loved one may feel symptoms that affect his neck, back, legs, feet, arms, or hands. Those general symptoms include pain, weakness, tingling, and numbness.
Symptoms usually develop slowly over time as the area in the spine gets more and more compressed. They might even come and go, causing your loved one to live with it for years before seeking diagnosis and treatment.
Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis in the Lumbar Area of the Back
When the compression occurs in the lower back vertebrae, your loved one may experience these symptoms:
- Pain that develops in the buttocks and travels down a leg, possibly even into the foot region
- Legs that feel heavy and cramp up easily
- Pain that gets worse if your loved one has to stand for a long time, or walk downhill.
- Pain in the lower back that is relieved when sitting or leaning forward.
Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis in the Cervical Area of the Back
Cervical spinal stenosis symptoms are felt below the point of the nerve compression in the neck. Symptoms include:
- Decreased hand function, especially fine motor movements
- Numbness or tingling in the arm, hand, leg, or foot
- Weak or clumsy movement of the arm, hand, leg, or foot
- Issues with balance
- Neck pain
Surgery Recovery Assistance with 24-Hour Home Care
If your loved one’s spinal stenosis continues to cause pain and discomfort despite trying all of the non-surgical recommendations from his doctor, your loved one may need to have surgery. Spinal surgery can require a significant amount of recovery time and will limit your loved one from performing certain daily activities as he recovers. He will likely need 24-hour home care, especially at the beginning of his recovery.
If you are unable to provide that level of care once he returns home from spinal surgery, a 24-hour home care team can help him stay in his home safely and provide the care he needs as he recovers.
While they are not medical professionals, a 24-hour home care team can assist in many of the same ways that a family member would once a loved one returns home for recovery. His team can help him avoid certain activities like lifting a heavy load of laundry or bending over to pick up a dropped sock. His 24-hour home care team can also assist with meal preparation and clean up, so your loved one continues to eat healthily as he recovers, thus speeding up his recovery time.
For most individuals with spinal stenosis, surgery is a last resort, but you can rest easier knowing your loved one will have the help he needs if spinal surgery is in the future.
If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-Hour Home Care in Peoria, AZ, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Resources today. Call (602) 443-4700
Home Care Resources is a top provider of home care services in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Goodyear, Cave Creek, Care Free, Fountain Hills, and surrounding areas.
Sources:
- Spinal Stenosis Symptoms - April 10, 2025
- Signs Your Senior Parent Needs Help With Personal Care - March 20, 2025
- Encouraging Seniors to Get Up and Move - March 7, 2025
