Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spinal canal becomes narrowed leading to pressure on the spinal cord and possibly the nerve roots as well. This leads to pain, numbness, and possibly loss of function. Causes include age-related changes (such as osteoporosis and degeneration of the spinal disks), trauma, tumors, or congenital condition. Symptoms depend on which part of the spins is most affected but usually are noticed in the arms or legs. It is mostly found in the lower back. It can also cause disruption of bowel function.
The Chinese view is to treat the blockage in qi flow up and down the spine using points along the spine and points that help control the qi flow up and down the body. If the cause is known, treat that. Usually, the nerves become inflamed, so I definitely treat that. Depending on location (nerve roots vs. the spinal cord itself) I would use location (treatment and Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM). Degenerating spinal disks cause a narrowing of the space between the vertebrae leading to compression of the nerve roots. The degeneration itself can be treated simply by needling the Du channel point but not too deeply (and you don’t need to get Qi since this is a charge related effect and doesn’t depend on the nervous system. In FSM there is a frequency for “pressure pain” which is useful here. We can also use FSM to try and repair the parts of the disk that are damaged. Degenerating disks are usually caused by chronically inflamed nerve roots in that same area. That causes the side of the disk next to the inflammation to become polarized which then causes the degeneration. Inflamed nerve roots can also cause facet joint hypertrophy (degeneration of that joint) by the same mechanisms.
In general, the main culprit is inflammation. In addition to the pain it causes, in addition to degeneration, it can also cause other problems such as calcium deposition, formation of bone spurs, and scar formation.
With this condition, knowing the exact condition of the tissues involved is key to coming up with an effective treatment.