Reviving Mobility: An Ayurvedic Perspective on the Management of Spinal Canal Stenosis

Abstract

Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis (LSCS) is a degenerative spinal disorder commonly associated with low back pain, radiating leg discomfort, neurogenic claudication, and varying degrees of functional impairment. In Ayurveda, the symptoms of LSCS are understood under the spectrum of Vata-vyadhi, and classical texts advocate therapies such as Rukṣaṇa, Snehana, Svedana, Śodhana, Bṛhmaṇa, and Rasāyana for symptom relief and functional recovery. This case report presents the outcome of a structured and sequential Ayurvedic treatment protocol administered to a 62-year-old female who reported severe low-back pain radiating to the right lower limb, difficulty in walking and bending, and bilateral big toe stiffness for one week. Clinical assessment suggested lumbar canal stenosis. The patient underwent a comprehensive two-month Ayurvedic regimen beginning with Rukṣaṇa to reduce stiffness, followed by Snehana and Svedana for pacification of Vata, Śodhana for systemic purification, and subsequent Bṛhmaṇa and Rasāyana therapies aimed at strengthening tissues and promoting rejuvenation. Significant improvements were observed in pain intensity, walking tolerance, lumbar mobility, straight leg raising, and reduction in big toe stiffness, enabling the patient to resume daily activities comfortably without any adverse effects and assessed using Oswestry disability index. This case demonstrates that a well-planned Ayurvedic approach integrating purification, pacification, nourishment, and rejuvenation therapies can provide meaningful symptomatic and functional improvements in LSCS, supporting its role as a safe and effective conservative treatment option and emphasizing the need for further research in larger study populations.