Wellness

[Teddixat]

Per the Mayo Clinic. I have spinal stenosis but thank goodness I do not have any symptoms other than balance. I had a frontal cervical discectomy about 12 years ago which was a total success. I had no pain - my symptoms were numbness hand and in the arms to my elbow, balance issues and dragging my left foot. The disc had collapsed and was pinching my spine. Once the issue was corrected (AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, A NEUROSURGEON SHOULD DO ANY SURGERY INVOLVING THE SPINE). The problem come in when there are more than one level to be repaired which may require plates which can be a problem later down the road.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

While some people are born with a small spinal canal, most spinal stenosis occurs when something happens to reduce the amount of space available within the spine. Causes of spinal stenosis may include:

• Overgrowth of bone. Wear and tear on your spinal bones can prompt the formation of bone spurs, which can grow into the spinal canal. Paget's disease, a bone disease that usually affects adults, also can cause bone overgrowth in the spine.
• Herniated disks. The soft cushions that act as shock absorbers between your vertebrae tend to dry out with age. Cracks in a disk's exterior may allow some of the soft inner material to escape and press on the spinal cord or nerves.
• Thickened ligaments. The tough cords that help hold the bones of your spine together can become stiff and thick over time. These thicker ligaments can bulge into the spinal canal.
• Tumors. Abnormal growths can form inside the spinal cord, within the membranes that cover the spinal cord or in the space between the spinal cord and vertebrae.
• Spinal injuries. Car accidents and other major trauma can cause dislocations or fractures of one or more vertebrae. Displaced bone from a spinal fracture may damage the contents of the spinal canal. Swelling of adjacent tissue immediately following back surgery also can put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves

Good luck

[halfpint1]

ima I know how awful the leg pain is. Sitting you don't feel it but when you walk wow. I hadn't walked in 5 days except at the grocery store and I really hurt. I only walk a mile total. It just was too hot here. I purposely made myself get up and go before 7. I am now going to get my mri results and disc this morning. My dh won't walk either. He has diabetes and other heath problems. I quit nagging about his smoking and drinking cokes for it is useless. This week he quit his oxygen during the day. For me I always wonder if a hard kick right smack in the tail bone years ago started my troubles.

And hckynut thanks for your input. As always you are very informative.

[moonstone dunes]

OP, Did you have a series of epidurals/cortisone shots or just one? They are done in sets, and one isn't really adequate to treat it; several are needed.

Have you tried acupuncture? I had this and it helped for a while. Do everything you can to avoid surgery! Be proactive. If and when you do see a neurosurgeon, you need to feel comfortable with him/her. These doctors aren't always known for their bedside manner, but that has little bearing on the skill and training. My surgeon was a bit aloof and had a PA for patient interactions.

I had the lumbar surgery (L5-S1) and I was fine for 3-4 years. Then the sciatic pain came back and I now have weakness in my right leg and hip. It started in my right leg and now affects both legs again. I have had PT again and imaging.

I do not want another surgery. I had a top neurosurgeon, the procedure was lengthy but my recovery was easy. They removed bone (laminectomy), fused 3 discs and implanted a cage. I had virtually no pain post-op. My scar healed extremely well, but I don't know if I would be that lucky a second time. I lost 10-15% mobility nerve damage left me with a slight limp.

I do suspect scar tissue is causing my current issues. I have to take muscle relaxants if the pain is really bad, my entire hip and thigh seem like they are on fire and then I cannot feel the area at all, just goes numb.

[halfpint1]

I wish I knew that I could of gotten the disc and print out earlier so the pain doctor could of explained what the words mean. You need a medical dictionary. Maybe someone here knows so I will put them down.

L4-L5-talks about spondylolisthesis L5-S1 with a bulge. I won't go into all of this.

--Sorry the laptop moved.

3-L4 there is sever ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and a 4 mm broad based disc bulge which combine to cause severe thecal sac compression. There is moderate right and moderate to severe left neural foramen stenosis. Mild facet hypertrophy noted.

[Kachina624]

Several years ago, I had a consultation with the head of the neurology department at the University of NM Medical School about the severe spinal stenosis in my lower back. He told me surgery might give me relief if I had pain in my legs, otherwise it was futile. I have no leg pain. I would not have surgery unless I was assured it would be successful. I live alone and have no support system so I can't afford to get any worse. I'm okay as long as I sit but can stand only 4-5 minutes.

I had a routine appointment with my internist yesterday and asked her if there have been any advances in treatment of stenosis. She ended up referring me to a new neurologist with UNM, so I'll see what they have to say. She mentioned spondylisthesis but I don't remember what she said about it. She gave me a copy of the radiologist's report of my last MRI which described my condition as "severe".