SPONDYLOLOSTHESIS & STENOSIS

[Guest guest]

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE NEURONTIN. IT IS REALLY HELPING. THE SURGEON

SAID THAT HE MIGHT DO A " CAGE " BETWEEN L4-L5. I AM GRADE ONE ON THE

SPONDY. HAS ANYONE HAD THE CAGE? WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON THIS.

MY MRI WAS NOT THAT EXTREME BUT MY PAIN IN MY BUTT AND THE ELECTRICITY

CAN GET INTENSE. ESPECIALLY THE SQUEEZING IN MY BUTT AND DOWN MY LEG.

I WAS TOLD THAT IF I DIDN'T HAVE FUSION (THIS WAS FIRST SURGEON I

WENT TO) I WOULD LAND UP IN WHEEL CHAIR WITH LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY

BOWELS AND URINE. NOT TOO ATTRACTIVE. SO I WENT TO GET A SECOND

OPINION AND THIS IS THE GUY THAT SAID " CAGE " . MY PHYSICAL THERAPIST,

WHO READ THE MRI REPORTS AND WHO I TRUST SAID HE FELT I COULD GO FOR

YEARS WITHOUT SURGERY. MOST OF THE TIME THE NEURONTIN WORKS. TONITE

WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS THO. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE

OR HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF A CAGE? OR HAS MY LEVEL OF SPONDY AND ALSO

STENOSIS? WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR STUFF.

THANKS, MARSHA

[Guest guest]

Hi:

I don't have the stenosis, however my spondy is

1.7 cm and like everyone with this, I have really

bad days and I have various levels of better days.

Have been living with this for over 2 years and can

now monitor my actions and predict what tomorrow will

bring (fairly accurately too). For many of lifes

normal activities, I require assistance and some

stuff I have just quit doing.

I do not have cages myself, but have a few friends

that have gone that route. One friend was not in the

best physical condition when she did it (she had lay-

around the house and gained alot of weight just prior

to surgery) her situation is considered a failure and

her pain level is about the same as before cage.

Another friend who has been on the thinner, healthier

side of life had L4/L5 caged and was again unhappy

and experiencing increased pain one year later - the

doctors said that she had put increased pressure on

L2/L3 and L5/S1 due to the strength of the cage

between those areas, so she went in and had another

cage done and now says she is doing great. She still

has to maintain her stretching and exercises to feel

her best but she is happy she did both.

To me, it sounds like your physical therapist is the

straight shooter. The spine is a delicate place to

be cutting around, personally I would do anything to

avoid surgery until there aren't any good days.

How long have you had your injury? Were you active

before it happened? Don't let doctors rush you into

treatments that they may stand to be paid very nicely

for doing, that may not actually be in your best

service for the long haul.

Debi

In spinaldisorderssupport , " makins1113 "

<BLEECKERST10012@A...> wrote:

>

> THANK YOU ALL FOR THE NEURONTIN. IT IS REALLY HELPING. THE

SURGEON

> SAID THAT HE MIGHT DO A " CAGE " BETWEEN L4-L5. I AM GRADE ONE ON

THE

> SPONDY. HAS ANYONE HAD THE CAGE? WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON THIS.

> MY MRI WAS NOT THAT EXTREME BUT MY PAIN IN MY BUTT AND THE

ELECTRICITY

> CAN GET INTENSE. ESPECIALLY THE SQUEEZING IN MY BUTT AND DOWN MY

LEG.

> I WAS TOLD THAT IF I DIDN'T HAVE FUSION (THIS WAS FIRST SURGEON I

> WENT TO) I WOULD LAND UP IN WHEEL CHAIR WITH LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY

> BOWELS AND URINE. NOT TOO ATTRACTIVE. SO I WENT TO GET A SECOND

> OPINION AND THIS IS THE GUY THAT SAID " CAGE " . MY PHYSICAL

THERAPIST,

> WHO READ THE MRI REPORTS AND WHO I TRUST SAID HE FELT I COULD GO

FOR

> YEARS WITHOUT SURGERY. MOST OF THE TIME THE NEURONTIN WORKS.

TONITE

> WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS THO. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS

EXPERIENCE

> OR HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF A CAGE? OR HAS MY LEVEL OF SPONDY AND ALSO

> STENOSIS? WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR

STUFF.

> THANKS, MARSHA

[Guest guest]

Hi:

I don't have the stenosis, however my spondy is

1.7 cm and like everyone with this, I have really

bad days and I have various levels of better days.

Have been living with this for over 2 years and can

now monitor my actions and predict what tomorrow will

bring (fairly accurately too). For many of lifes

normal activities, I require assistance and some

stuff I have just quit doing.

I do not have cages myself, but have a few friends

that have gone that route. One friend was not in the

best physical condition when she did it (she had lay-

around the house and gained alot of weight just prior

to surgery) her situation is considered a failure and

her pain level is about the same as before cage.

Another friend who has been on the thinner, healthier

side of life had L4/L5 caged and was again unhappy

and experiencing increased pain one year later - the

doctors said that she had put increased pressure on

L2/L3 and L5/S1 due to the strength of the cage

between those areas, so she went in and had another

cage done and now says she is doing great. She still

has to maintain her stretching and exercises to feel

her best but she is happy she did both.

To me, it sounds like your physical therapist is the

straight shooter. The spine is a delicate place to

be cutting around, personally I would do anything to

avoid surgery until there aren't any good days.

How long have you had your injury? Were you active

before it happened? Don't let doctors rush you into

treatments that they may stand to be paid very nicely

for doing, that may not actually be in your best

service for the long haul.

Debi

In spinaldisorderssupport , " makins1113 "

<BLEECKERST10012@A...> wrote:

>

> THANK YOU ALL FOR THE NEURONTIN. IT IS REALLY HELPING. THE

SURGEON

> SAID THAT HE MIGHT DO A " CAGE " BETWEEN L4-L5. I AM GRADE ONE ON

THE

> SPONDY. HAS ANYONE HAD THE CAGE? WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON THIS.

> MY MRI WAS NOT THAT EXTREME BUT MY PAIN IN MY BUTT AND THE

ELECTRICITY

> CAN GET INTENSE. ESPECIALLY THE SQUEEZING IN MY BUTT AND DOWN MY

LEG.

> I WAS TOLD THAT IF I DIDN'T HAVE FUSION (THIS WAS FIRST SURGEON I

> WENT TO) I WOULD LAND UP IN WHEEL CHAIR WITH LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY

> BOWELS AND URINE. NOT TOO ATTRACTIVE. SO I WENT TO GET A SECOND

> OPINION AND THIS IS THE GUY THAT SAID " CAGE " . MY PHYSICAL

THERAPIST,

> WHO READ THE MRI REPORTS AND WHO I TRUST SAID HE FELT I COULD GO

FOR

> YEARS WITHOUT SURGERY. MOST OF THE TIME THE NEURONTIN WORKS.

TONITE

> WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS THO. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS

EXPERIENCE

> OR HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF A CAGE? OR HAS MY LEVEL OF SPONDY AND ALSO

> STENOSIS? WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR

STUFF.

> THANKS, MARSHA

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/10/2004 12:44:57 AM Eastern Standard Time,

barkz4me@... writes:

How long have you had your injury? Were you active

before it happened? Don't let doctors rush you into

treatments that they may stand to be paid very nicely

for doing, that may not actually be in your best

service for the long haul.

debi, i was not injured. i have been dealing with back issues for ever.

the spony is new. and nobody ever told me stenosis before. but then again

i had not had an mri of my back before. the squeezing in my butt and then

the agony down my leg is a bit much. today was a good day but then there was

this moment of shooting pain to let me know i had been on my feet too long. i

have always been a work out person. weight training and swimming. i am

still swimming and went today. but i just know i have to have the surgery. i

feel like i am steadily getting worse. i have been dealing with this pain

issue since last december i think. i am about 20 lbs overweight - for me. but

i am in excellent condition for my age - 58 years. the doctors are always

amazed at how strong i am. but i do not think that i am NOT going to do the

surgery. i am already thinking about doing it at xmas when my son is home

from law school and can take care of me 24 hrs a day. i just don't see the

sense of staying in pain like this. (i will not take narcotics). my doctor is

dr. digicientos who is head of neurosurgery at roosevelt hospital (nyc) and he

was also one of " the best doctors of 2004 " in new york magazine. so i guess

i am hopeful. i just do not want to land up in a wheel chair and can't

control my bowels and urine. i would rather be dead. that is not quality of

life. thanks, marsha

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/10/2004 12:44:57 AM Eastern Standard Time,

barkz4me@... writes:

How long have you had your injury? Were you active

before it happened? Don't let doctors rush you into

treatments that they may stand to be paid very nicely

for doing, that may not actually be in your best

service for the long haul.

debi, i was not injured. i have been dealing with back issues for ever.

the spony is new. and nobody ever told me stenosis before. but then again

i had not had an mri of my back before. the squeezing in my butt and then

the agony down my leg is a bit much. today was a good day but then there was

this moment of shooting pain to let me know i had been on my feet too long. i

have always been a work out person. weight training and swimming. i am

still swimming and went today. but i just know i have to have the surgery. i

feel like i am steadily getting worse. i have been dealing with this pain

issue since last december i think. i am about 20 lbs overweight - for me. but

i am in excellent condition for my age - 58 years. the doctors are always

amazed at how strong i am. but i do not think that i am NOT going to do the

surgery. i am already thinking about doing it at xmas when my son is home

from law school and can take care of me 24 hrs a day. i just don't see the

sense of staying in pain like this. (i will not take narcotics). my doctor is

dr. digicientos who is head of neurosurgery at roosevelt hospital (nyc) and he

was also one of " the best doctors of 2004 " in new york magazine. so i guess

i am hopeful. i just do not want to land up in a wheel chair and can't

control my bowels and urine. i would rather be dead. that is not quality of

life. thanks, marsha

[Guest guest]

Marsha, I am scheduled for a fusion on L5 L5S1 on Nov 3. I have had my spondy

now for 5 1/2 yrs. It has been upgraded from a grade I to a hard grade II/grade

III. They were talking of a cage at first, but my spondy is to far forward for

a cage to work. The cage is done from the abdomen and placed around the

vertabrae. You may ask them to do a bone graph instead of the cage. The

surgeon that will be doing mine told me that the bone has a harder time fusing

with the cage. The first surgeon was right, you MAY lose your feeling in your

legs, but if you activity is kept at a minimum and you are careful you can go

for life without surgery.

makins1113 <BLEECKERST10012@...> wrote:

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE NEURONTIN. IT IS REALLY HELPING. THE SURGEON

SAID THAT HE MIGHT DO A " CAGE " BETWEEN L4-L5. I AM GRADE ONE ON THE

SPONDY. HAS ANYONE HAD THE CAGE? WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON THIS.

MY MRI WAS NOT THAT EXTREME BUT MY PAIN IN MY BUTT AND THE ELECTRICITY

CAN GET INTENSE. ESPECIALLY THE SQUEEZING IN MY BUTT AND DOWN MY LEG.

I WAS TOLD THAT IF I DIDN'T HAVE FUSION (THIS WAS FIRST SURGEON I

WENT TO) I WOULD LAND UP IN WHEEL CHAIR WITH LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY

BOWELS AND URINE. NOT TOO ATTRACTIVE. SO I WENT TO GET A SECOND

OPINION AND THIS IS THE GUY THAT SAID " CAGE " . MY PHYSICAL THERAPIST,

WHO READ THE MRI REPORTS AND WHO I TRUST SAID HE FELT I COULD GO FOR

YEARS WITHOUT SURGERY. MOST OF THE TIME THE NEURONTIN WORKS. TONITE

WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS THO. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE

OR HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF A CAGE? OR HAS MY LEVEL OF SPONDY AND ALSO

STENOSIS? WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR STUFF.

THANKS, MARSHA

[Guest guest]

Marsha, I am scheduled for a fusion on L5 L5S1 on Nov 3. I have had my spondy

now for 5 1/2 yrs. It has been upgraded from a grade I to a hard grade II/grade

III. They were talking of a cage at first, but my spondy is to far forward for

a cage to work. The cage is done from the abdomen and placed around the

vertabrae. You may ask them to do a bone graph instead of the cage. The

surgeon that will be doing mine told me that the bone has a harder time fusing

with the cage. The first surgeon was right, you MAY lose your feeling in your

legs, but if you activity is kept at a minimum and you are careful you can go

for life without surgery.

makins1113 <BLEECKERST10012@...> wrote:

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE NEURONTIN. IT IS REALLY HELPING. THE SURGEON

SAID THAT HE MIGHT DO A " CAGE " BETWEEN L4-L5. I AM GRADE ONE ON THE

SPONDY. HAS ANYONE HAD THE CAGE? WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON THIS.

MY MRI WAS NOT THAT EXTREME BUT MY PAIN IN MY BUTT AND THE ELECTRICITY

CAN GET INTENSE. ESPECIALLY THE SQUEEZING IN MY BUTT AND DOWN MY LEG.

I WAS TOLD THAT IF I DIDN'T HAVE FUSION (THIS WAS FIRST SURGEON I

WENT TO) I WOULD LAND UP IN WHEEL CHAIR WITH LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY

BOWELS AND URINE. NOT TOO ATTRACTIVE. SO I WENT TO GET A SECOND

OPINION AND THIS IS THE GUY THAT SAID " CAGE " . MY PHYSICAL THERAPIST,

WHO READ THE MRI REPORTS AND WHO I TRUST SAID HE FELT I COULD GO FOR

YEARS WITHOUT SURGERY. MOST OF THE TIME THE NEURONTIN WORKS. TONITE

WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS THO. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE

OR HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF A CAGE? OR HAS MY LEVEL OF SPONDY AND ALSO

STENOSIS? WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR STUFF.

THANKS, MARSHA