Re: Spinal Stenosis

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

I have spinal stenosis and I have steroid injections every 3 months, my insurance covers it. I'm pretty sure all insurance plans cover it. I'm not just saying that, I know because it's part of what I do professionally. The hospital I work for does more of these injections than I can count and I've never seen an insurer deny it. However, most insurers have to authorize it in advance. If you didn't get pre-authorization for the injection, that could be why your insurer won't cover it.

Leeny · ‎06-24-2011

Yes, I have spinal stenosis I have had the shots and they help for awhile, but what I have found that has helped is exercise and weight loss. No, it doesn't get rid of it, but it helps to eleviate the pain. I don't have the worst condition, but it is painful. Swimming helped me the most.

I seen a physical medicine doctor and he told me to avoid surgery at all costs. I know this is just his opinion, but I have known a couple of people who had spinal surgery and they wound up worse off afterwards. So I took his advice and that was 4 years ago.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@Leeny wrote:
Yes, I have spinal stenosis I have had the shots and they help for awhile, but what I have found that has helped is exercise and weight loss. No, it doesn't get rid of it, but it helps to eleviate the pain. I don't have the worst condition, but it is painful. Swimming helped me the most.
I seen a physical medicine doctor and he told me to avoid surgery at all costs. I know this is just his opinion, but I have known a couple of people who had spinal surgery and they wound up worse off afterwards. So I took his advice and that was 4 years ago.

I'm sorry but any doctor that would say "avoid surgery at all costs" is a quack. There are many spinal situations where surgery is the only answer. I am 100% positive you misunderstood what he said as no decent doctor would tell a patient this. My stenosis growths were impinging into the mylin shealth which is the "skin" over the nerves and I would have soon become unable to function without my surgery. Also - injections help the pain but not the weakness you get as the nerves become more damaged. I was already getting foot drop from the damage to the nerves to my foot, resulting in my dragging the foot and stumbling & falling a lot.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

@151949 wrote:
@Leeny wrote:
Yes, I have spinal stenosis I have had the shots and they help for awhile, but what I have found that has helped is exercise and weight loss. No, it doesn't get rid of it, but it helps to eleviate the pain. I don't have the worst condition, but it is painful. Swimming helped me the most.
I seen a physical medicine doctor and he told me to avoid surgery at all costs. I know this is just his opinion, but I have known a couple of people who had spinal surgery and they wound up worse off afterwards. So I took his advice and that was 4 years ago.

I'm sorry but any doctor that would say "avoid surgery at all costs" is a quack. There are many spinal situations where surgery is the only answer. I am 100% positive you misunderstood what he said as no decent doctor would tell a patient this. My stenosis growths were impinging into the mylin shealth which is the "skin" over the nerves and I would have soon become unable to function without my surgery. Also - injections help the pain but not the weakness you get as the nerves become more damaged. I was already getting foot drop from the damage to the nerves to my foot, resulting in my dragging the foot and stumbling & falling a lot.

@151949

I 100% agree with you. Any doctor that told me what they would never do that might help my condition? Immediately be my FORMER doctor.

I have spoken hers many times about a good friend of mine that Specializes only on the Spine, which includes being one of the few in our area, that does intricate types of Micro Surgeries. He also is a Registered Sports Doctor of Medicine

He has done many surgeries on patients with Spinal Stenosis. The large majority were relieved of their excruciating types of pains. Some were helped greatly, but not totally pain free. Yes, there were a few that it did not help, but that is what a knowledgeable person of this topic would/should understand.

Nothing in medicine or in the Medical Field will help EVERYONE. Me personally? I waited too long to have my surgery and it permanently damaged nerves in my spine. What one chooses to do is only their business, but I would suggest you at least get a 2nd opinion when it comes to helping your pain.

hvkynut(john)

hckynut(john)