Guest guest Posted June 26, 2011 Report Share Posted June 26, 2011 ---Carolyn wrote: > > Anyone had surgery for this and had a good or not good outcome? My doctor is recommending it. Carolyn - What kind of surgery specifically is he recommending? I believe there are several possible procedures, depending on where the narrowing is. I have severe congenital stenosis and several surgeons have tried to talk me into a surgery, but I can still walk so I won't even consider it unless it degenerates to the point that I can't walk anymore. Cheryl in AZ Moderator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2011 Report Share Posted June 26, 2011 What do you do to keep it at bay? I can walk but not very far at a time. They haven't come up with a treatment plan and I just kind of want to see how it might turn out. I've been putting it off since I could still walk and my doctor has been great about pain meds but I just can't walk very far anymore. I've gone form three mile hikes to less than 100 yard in just 6 months all of a sudden. Carolyn Eddy " Sweet Goat Mama " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2011 Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 Carolyn wrote: > Anyone had surgery for this and had a good or not good outcome? My doctor is recommending it. I can't walk more than 100 feet without everything just quitting on me. > Carolyn > " Sweet Goat Mama " > Carolyn, I am assuming he wants to do a fusion. I was to the same point that I could not walk. I had the three level fusion, which most Doctors shudder about as after two levels, the vertabrae above the fusion receive all the impact of movement and wear down. It seems that three level are shunned but I thought of all the scolosis patients that have multiple fusions and needed to be functional. I had good results and the only thing was muscle spasm as the hardware was making me stand straight and I do not have strengthened abdomen muscles. I encourage physical therapy for this and a home program for life. I wish I could tell you more but the auto accident after my fusion confuses the issues of trying to differtiate where my pain generates from. I have Degenerative Disc Disease with moderate stenosis, sacral iliac syndrome,piriformis syndrome, siatica,and it seems, for me, muscle spasms and staying in spasm are my worst problem. Let us know what surgery you are considering and I hope you get the results you need, Carolyn. Thinking of you and wishing the best. Bennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2011 Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 It's possible that this will solve your problem if they have pinpointed that the narrowing (lumbar stenosis) is causing the legs to give out. What level is the stenosis? Do you have pain or numbness in your legs as well? I've not had the surgery but I've studied to know when and if I would consider surgery for my cervical stenosis. Jennette >Carolyn " Sweet Goat Mama " wrote: Anyone had surgery for this and had a good or not good outcome? My doctor is recommending it. I can't walk more than 100 feet without everything just quitting on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2011 Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 --- Carolyn wrote: > > What do you do to keep it at bay? Carolyn - I'm just " lucky. " Mine is congenital, not due to age and degeneration, so it's holding pretty steady. It's been bad my whole life, but not so bad that I can't walk. I do have to stop frequently and bend over or sit to relieve the pressure so that my right leg and foot in particular doesn't go numb. I walk bent over the grocery cart in the stores, I do tons of stretches and physical therapy exercises. Standing kills me, can't do it. Walking is a challenge but I'm not so disabled by it that I can't still do it. I have no doubt that as I age the degenerative stuff will make the stenosis worse. My neurosurgeon saw my films four years apart and swore it was substantially worse, but frankly I can't tell the difference what with all the other stuff I have going on back there (adhesive arachnoiditis, multiple disk problems, etc). If you're having significant disability due to it, then you need to see about having it " fixed " if possible. You don't want permanent nerve damage if it can be avoided. I know that you know to get several opinions first, though! Cheryl in AZ Moderator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2011 Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 Carolyn wrote: > What do you do to keep it at bay? I can walk but not very far at a time. They haven't come up with a treatment plan and I just kind of want to see how it might turn out. I've been putting it off since I could still walk and my doctor has been great about pain meds but I just can't walk very far anymore. I've gone form three mile hikes to less than 100 yard in just 6 months all of a sudden. Hi Caroln That happened to me too. In the end, I put off surgery too long and ended up darned near dying from cauda equina. My insides just started shutting down. Before I went for surgery (and before the cauda equina), I went for physical therapy, I got stretched on a rack :-), tried a myriad of home exercises, special knee pillows, and on and on. One day, I woke up and my legs no longer worked at all. Please find a good surgeon, who has done lots and lots of the type of surgery you will need. Ask for patient references and follow them up. Then just sit on the whole thing while you try other things first. Some people get a whole lot better with physical therapy and some don't. My orthopaedic surgeon was in his early 70's when he operated on me. He had been doing surgery for almost 50 years by then. He really knew his stuff. The neurosurgeons said I was inoperable and I should go home and make a new will and find someone to take over the care of my teenage children. The neurosurgeons were in their 30's and obviously didn't have the skill that my dear old ortho did. He did an incredibly good job on my lower back. His work has held up for almost 20 years now. My neck is now shot, but I haven't been able to find a surgeon I trust even half aa much as the doctor I had years ago. When I do find one that I think has his level of skill, I'll suck it up and get my neck done. Until then, I'll keep getting radio frequency lesioning, and doing my physio exercises. The two help some, but the pain is still wicked. Good luck with your quest. You may be one of those lucky people who gets relief from physical therapy. If not, I sure hope you find a surgeon with years and years of practice on other people! Lyndi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 > Carolyn wrote: > What do you do to keep it at bay? I can walk but not very far at a time. They haven't come up with a treatment plan and I just kind of want to see how it might turn out. I've been putting it off since I could still walk and my doctor has been great about pain meds but I just can't walk very far anymore. I've gone form three mile hikes to less than 100 yard in just 6 months all of a sudden, Carolyn, I would have a physical therpaist evaluate me to see what is going on, if it is impingement on a nerve or bone on bone. Bennie *Have you had myelogram ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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