Spinal Stenosis Question

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Baybreeze

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I know Pepper, the cramping is horrible!! I wish none of us had to go through any of this. At this point, my cramping is worse in all my leg parts and hanRAB. My back is less so. My back usually spasms when I start walking as does my rear and backs of thighs. But Im still getting the bad cramps all over even while doing nothing and have no answer for it yet. And the Soma and Lyrica are not really helping much. Good luck to you, too..and remeraber - Baby steps!!
 
Hi I am new to this-have seen a neuro surgeon who says I need 2 level TLIF and decompression of the spine L4/L5 and S1 affected. Am trying to research if anyone has had this procedure and any advise on rehabilitation would be most helpful.
 
Hi Deedag, it would be better if you posted your own question about that so that it is visible to everyone on the main listings.
 
I was just thinking of this...if you have spinal stenosis, then have surgery for it (laminectomies or fusion or whatever other procedures get done for this), would you still have that diagnosis after surgery?

I did notice on paperwork I got from going to my surgeon's & his PM's office after surgery, there were diagnoses listed on there. It still listed spinal stenosis (as well as spondylosis, which I know this doesn't go away). They even circled spinal stenosis on the paper at my last visit when I had the severe sciatica and got a nerve block.
 
Hello Friend,

I have spinal stenosis as well as a few other back problems. I had surgery in April, 2003 for stenosis, ddd, herniations and was told that the stiffness in my back that had bothered me for more than 10 years was arthritis. I was later told the surgery did not cure the stenosis. It provided relief and that after about five years the condition would be back. Well, let me tell you I can feel it. I'm having trouble sitting flat again and I'm beginning to need a basket just to walk around CVS. I did, however, appreciate the time I did have relief from this pain.

Rosa
 
Baybreeze,
i had 2 fusion surgeries and one of the diagnoses was Spinal stenosis (like everybody else after age 25).
I had surgeries done and MRI was 6 month later - spinal stenosis still was diagnosed right on operated areas. Dr said that they worked on this area, but due to us aging, moving, having surgeries (more surgeries we have, more damage and arthrities we get in there) we get same things again: DDD, stenosis, arhrities, etc.
I had my first surgery after a big car accident so all the above problems were least of my concern. I wouldn't just go and have fusion just because of the stenosis or DDD.
My mom has severe spinal stenosis since she was 35, I am talking severe. She also has arthrities, DDD - everything comes with territory.:)
She never went for surgery even though many spinal specialists insisted her to do so.
Guess what? I had 2 fusion surgeries, I am in 51 and mom in her 74 is doing so much better than I do. Yes, she leaves in severe pain, she is constantly on PK for many-many years. She refused any shots, surgeries - she is walking still (I hardly), she can seat (I can't do it for prolong time), she can even bend and lift, with pain of course - I can't even dream about it. Go figure...
 
I dont think stenosis goes away. I think the surgical procedures try to open up the area where the stenosis is in hopes that the nerves can move freely, but it doesn't cure stenosis. I have read that as we age the stenosis is likely to worsen. Yippee. As for spondy I guess the just try to stabilize it as well but I dont really know as much about it. On my Mom's side of the family all the little old ladies and little ol men have stenosis and the all walk a little hunched over. I guess for me stenosis is mostly congenital but I am sure I have done things to help it along. Does that help at all?
 
I was looking some things up about stenosis just now, and everywhere it does while surgery is not a "cure", it can bring relief. Was just wondering since I had surgery, if it would still be considered a condition that I have. (this is for purposes of seeing if I will qualify for some help for people that have disabilites). I do still have the arthritis and DDD for sure, plus ankle arthritis and PTTD, sle, and maybe fibro. I know that just the arthritis puts limits on things I do, so that should help. Plus ive been having more spine issues some related to scar tissue and maybe more herniations and I do know my foramin are narrowed as well.
 
Baybreeze, my surgeon said it was not a cure.

I actually think my last nerve block it is worse in my back. I have ungodly cramps in the back that I used to have in my legs. I still get them in the legs but they are nothing compared to the cramps in the back.

Good luck sweetie, I pray you find some relief soon
 
Yeah, I know I have some sort of problem since I can't walk around with just a basket anymore. I'm back to needing a shopping cart which, of course, limits where I can go again. ::sigh:: But I do not have every pain back as I had before surgery, thank goodness.
 
Thanks, Dee. Yeah, before surgery I had to walk hunched over at almost a 90 degree angle. I was holding onto my knees all the time. Now Im starting to hunch a little bit, the more i walk, the more I have to hunch...but I am not sure of what exactly the problem is now. I see my surgeon in June. As for the spondy, I meant spondylosis, not spondylolisthesis. The spondylosis is basically spinal osteoarthritis, so no surgery can do antying for that. And yes that will probably get worse and even my surgeon had said I may end up with more problems down the road b/c of the spondylosis and ddd. HE said it's possible to get stenosis in the same place, though it doesnt happen frequently.
 
i am having lurabar spinal canal stenosis. I am 23 years old. I need to go in for a surgery in a week. I am not married yet. Can i marry after this surgery and lead a normal life?
 
I am a newbie, but already found many helpful things. I have, over the last couple years, had much pain in my lower back due to bulging disc and DDD. Lately I have had horrible pain in my neck and to my bra line, sometimes it makes me have a headache sometimes it makes me sick to my stomach! I had an MRI and the results are 'degenerative disc space changes with mild stenosis' Dr. on vacation now and the thing mentioned on the report was continue with present management and follow up in the office. my only treatment is pain meRAB, (thank goodness.) What I wanted to know is does this condition continue to get worse? It is getting harder and harder to work everyday, sometimes having to double pain meRAB to make it and when i get home i can only sit back in recliner. Any info or encourgement would be helpful. Thanks, Mimi2angels:angel:
 
I didn't know spodylosis was different . I guess I have that too because I literally have osteoarthritis all over my back and neck. And as of my last lurabar mri severe spinal stenosis is pretty much everywhere too. I am hoping after my prolotherapy to feel well enough to try and do some light volunteer work and if that goes well, then maybe a part time job. I haven't worked outside the home since 2001 and I am a little lonely. I never thought I would miss working but I do. Probably not so much the working but getting out and meeting new people.I have always been pretty outgoing-life of the party type and I miss that girl.
 
oh my goodness....Baybreeze, Pepper, Moldova...hi to all of you...I have not been on much lately..just viewing posts....so sorry that you are having the SS problem....my Dentist just had surgery for this...he didn't have any pain...just suddenly lost the feeling below his knees. He is doing well...but think he went back to work in a week....way too soon if you ask me... Hope you can find something to help you out.

Take care...think of you all often....

Leslie (Sage)
 
I know what you mean, I really havent had a social life since 2003 or '04. I started having back problems then, and after a while, frienRAB stop asking you to go places, etc. They just don't understand pain unless they've been through it. I've been out of work 2 monhts now and am getting bored, although I have met up with former co-workers twice, once for lunch after some of us were at an unemployment meeting the same time, and once for dinner that we planned out. So that was nice, b/c I really don't go out.
 
Hi, and welcome to the forum. It would be best to start your own discussion as this one started in 2008 and not many people are going to see your questions.

Of course you can marry after surgery, but no one can tell you if your life is going to be 100% normal again. Recovery is a very individual thing and a lot depenRAB, too, on what kind of surgery you are having and at what level.

I hope you will start your own discussion so that you can get more opinions and advice from the folks here.

Carol
 
Thank you so much Carol. I was so confused. I do have a boy friend and we planned to get married after 2 years. I didn't know what to tell him after all this happened. Thank you once again.

have a great day!!!!!!!!!!

Beulah
 
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