What surgery for disk bulges and stenosis?

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SKZ

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Hi everyone,
I was wondering if you all can help me, please? I had a 2 level neck fusion in Jan. of '07. I no sooner got over that (if you can call it getting over) then my lower back started to kill me. I think all of this might be from a hard ice fall 7 yrs. ago. I am 52, so it all catches up eventually. I got an MRI and I have bulging disks, arthritis, and stenosis at levels...L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1. I walk with a bit of a limp (which is bumming me out) and cannot really walk for any distance. I can't stand up for real long either. I cant substitute elem. school because of this issue, which I have been doing for 30 yrs and want to continue. My hip hurts a lot too. I thought some of it might be hip bursitis (which I have on both sides from that ice fall). But I got a nice big steroid shot in there last week and my hip is still hurting when I walk. I know hip pain can be referred from the lurabar area. I have already been thru a ton of PT (no help at all). I cant out of pain enough to do any exercises that would strengthen my back. So far i have had 2 lurabar facet injections (no help...even though right after the doc did them, i did feel better for a little while that day.) I have also had one epidural 3 weeks ago that helped somewhat. I am having my 2nd one tomorrow. My PT told me that if this doesnt work, I might be looking at the possibility of surgery. Oh boy, not again. But it WOULD be great to be able to walk half decently again. It is really changing my lifestyle, this walking/standing problem. If I have bulging disks and stenosis at 3 levels...should the epidural be done at all of those 3 levels??????? Also, can you guys tell me what surgery they might do if I need one, so I can kind of research it. I found all kinRAB of different names and am not sure what they do for my issue. I PRAY it wouldnt be a fusion. My dr. told me that the disks are not degenerated (like they were in my neck).
THANKS, YOU GUYS. I really appreciate it. By the way, I am the one who posted about that Cyrabalta nightmare on July 4th weekend. The doc gave me 60mg. right away and didnt titrate me up. oyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
 
>> I have bulging disks, arthritis, and stenosis at levels...L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1.

Bulging, no herniations? You may be like me, then. I had only bulging disks in my lurabar, but none were herniated. I had to have surgery for the stenosis and only for the one area where the stenosis was severe (clamped down on both sciatic nerves --such fun), not the rest. My surgery was a lurabar laminectomy and it was done 7 weeks ago as of tomorrow. I had vertebrae shaved down and a hole drilled into the bone at my stenosis and that was all, no fusion. Recovery has been more than I thought it would be, but not 'bad'. I thought it would be easier than my acdf b/c there was no fusion, but it's just too a large muscle group to cut into; it's a harder recovery for me b/c of that. Either that or it's just me, my response to it. It was well worth it, though, b/c I couldn't walk or stand without excruciating pain before and had to use either a cane or walker when I did walk --even then I couldn't go far. Now, it's soooo much better. I have recovery pain, but no longer have the debilitating pain that kept me from doing things. I can tell that when I'm all healed up, I'll be able to walk and stand without problems. That's definitely worth it. I can't say anything about the epidural part of your question, though, sorry. I've never had an epidural, just meRAB, PT, then surgery. I've only discussed an epidural injection w/ my GP and the NS, never had it. I can tell you that it was only discussed for the severe stenosis on my sciatic nerves and not for the mild to moderate stenoses. I hope that helps some.
-Meghan
 
Thanks Meghan. Boy we a lot in common as far as back stuff is concerned. It sure would be great to stand and walk half normally. Thanks for answering!
 
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