How Conservative Care Helped Susan Avoid Back Surgery for Spinal Stenosis.
At 71 years old, Susan W., a retired librarian and grandmother of four, began experiencing what she called “a heavy, tight feeling” in her lower back and legs.
At first, she thought it was arthritis or simply aging. But soon:
Walking more than 5–10 minutes triggered burning and numbness in her thighs
Grocery shopping became a struggle
Bending over or climbing stairs was difficult
She started avoiding outings and long walks with her grandchildren
After consulting her physician and undergoing an MRI, Susan was diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis—a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on nerves.
She was told she may need an epidural injection and should “start thinking about surgery.”
But Susan wasn’t ready for invasive treatments. She wanted to try a natural, gentle approach—and that’s when she came to Brooklyn Pain Doctors clinic.
During her first visit, our team of licensed physical therapists and acupuncturists noted:
Pain increased with standing or walking but improved with sitting (neurogenic claudication)
Decreased lumbar extension range of motion
Tight hip flexors and weak glutes
Forward-bent posture when walking to relieve pressure
Moderate balance deficits and fear of falling
Susan’s goal was simple:
“I want to walk around the park again. And I don’t want surgery.”
We designed a 12-week conservative care plan focused on decompressing the spine, restoring mobility, and building stability.
✅ Acupuncture (2x/week):
To calm nerve irritation, improve circulation, and reduce lower back stiffness.
✅ Manual Physical Therapy:
Gentle joint mobilizations, soft tissue release, and stretching to improve lumbar and hip mobility.
✅ Postural Retraining:
Correcting excessive forward flexion and teaching safe movement patterns.
✅ Neurodynamic & Decompression Techniques:
Inclined walking drills, knee-to-chest exercises, and gentle flexion-based stretches.
✅ Balance & Gait Training:
To improve stability and reduce fall risk while walking.
✅ Home Program & Daily Movement Coaching:
Tailored, low-impact stretches and walks to keep her active without overloading her spine.