Pain a year after operation for spinal stenosis, L4, L4

@elizadolittle Hello and welcome to Connect. I think if I had been given the same choice between allowing lumbar spinal stenosis to continue and taking drugs or decompression surgery, I would have chosen surgery too.

I did have stenosis and spinal cord compression in my neck, and I chose surgery which has been very successful.

Surgery creates a lot of scar tissue and that gets tight, and it can contribute to pain. I have found that working with my physical therapist who does myofascial release helps me a lot. It helps a lot of physical conditions with restrictions caused by overly tight muscle or scar tissue. Here is a link to our discussion where you can learn more.

Neuropathy - Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
Have you heard of Myofascial Release (MFR) before?

Jennifer

It is almost a year since I had my operation for spinal stenosis.

I wish someone had told me how long it would take to recover. Six weeks? No. Six months? Getting better.
Almost a year? Getting better. I realized the other day I have more control over my bladder. I am sleeping through the night without having to get up 3 or 4 times.

I am lucky in that my acupuncturist had the same operation. So, she sympathizes with me.

Besides Tylenol Extra, I find an ice pack really helps control the pain. The problem is that the pain sneaks up on you and you don't immediately think "ice pack!"

I am looking to hear from others and their journey after an operation for spinal stenosis, L4 and L5.

I hope my experience gives some encouragement to fellow sufferers.

Hello @elizadolittle, I combined your new discussion on your stenosis recovery with your original post, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pain-a-year-after-operation-for-spinal-stenosis-l4-l4/.

Did you get a chance to see @jenniferhunter 's question in regards to trying myofascial release (MFR) as a way to try and help with pain?

To elizadolittle (I love that): recovery from major spine surgery is long and frustrating and at times infuriating. I’m certain you’ve felt all that and more.

Setting your post-op expectations correctly is helpful. You will not waltz out of the hospital upon release! Bone repair can take your body as long as 12 months and there’s little you can do (PT, drugs, stretching, anything…) to speed the healing process.

I suggest keeping a regular diary describing your progress that you can refer to in order to “see” your slow progress. But it can be frustrating nonetheless!

I am exactly (to the day) 12 months post 4-level cervical work and it is 98% great. Nine months post lumbar and that recovery is predictably less complete.

Good luck! Keep a positive attitude and keep your focus forward looking. Taking permanent nerve damage off the table is well worth your current struggles!

I had a laminectomy at the end of November for compression caused by spinal stenosis. The numbness is gone but now I have a severe pain down my right leg. I’m on gabapentin and tizanidine. I’m still hoping it is an irritated nerve and will heal, but a follow-up MRI is being scheduled. I’m doing PT and gentle yoga, walking a mile, but the pain is constant when standing or walking. At what point did your pain go away? Do you think this will heal on its own? I’m scared that I’m heading for a second surgery.

It will be exactly one year March 23rd since my surgery. I didn't really feel like I was making progress until the end of September. I've just noticed that I have better control over my bladder. It seemed like every time I turned around I had to go to the bathroom. I understand that people with spinal stenosis have difficulty controlling their bladder. I had only one instance of that the day the pain hit as I was getting out of bed.
The previous reply to my post hit it on the nail. Recovery takes its own sweet time--and unfortunately doctors don't seem to want to tell you that. Be careful of the exercise you do. My acupuncturist had the same operation as I had. She recommends walking, but not physio. I am finding that if I touch my toes at the end of a hot shower helps. I take as hot a shower as I can, touch my toes, then turn the water down to as cold as I can stand it.

Yesterday, I tried an ice pack on my back without the use of Tylenol and it worked!

I get pain down my right leg if I drive too much. I am driving a bit more without repercussions. i am extremely cautious about how much I drive. If I drive to the grocers, etc. one day, I don't drive the next day.

My surgeon gave me a choice of staying on Tramadol and Gabapentin for the rest of my life or the operation without any guarantees. i am glad I took the operation.

The first thing I did was work to get off the opioids. I can't believe the difference in my mental clarity! In hindsight I did it too fast by switching to Advil and taking it 6 days straight. I ended up with extremely high blood pressure and one doctor called it a mini heart attack.

From what you are telling me, you are trying too hard to improve. I've been there and done that. Relax. It's easy to say. Not easy to do, if you are a doer.

Thanks for your comments. I agree about not setting your expectations too high. I just wish I had that information about a year ago. I am noticing some more improvement just this last week. I don't have to go to the bathroom every time I turn around.

I killed the pain yesterday by just using an ice pack. This is the first time I've tried that. I usually combine it with Tylenol Extra Strength. No sleepy, drowsy feeling either.

Thanks for your positive advice.

The journey can be very frustrating at times! Am I actually improving? I often experienced one step forward followed by one step (or more) backwards...Do you maintain a diary? That really helped me have a perspective on how I was actually improving.

I love your comment that you experienced improvement just last week. So encouraging and often just when your frustration with "no progress" is peaking! The moral of that story is always maintain a positive outlook. Things will likely to continue to improve in a herky-jerky manner.

No, I don't maintain a diary. I am too busy for that. I do observe what works and what is too much action. e.g. Just last Sunday, I did some shopping. I planned my route carefully so no double-backing. I visited three stores and arrived home pain free. That was the longest shopping event that I have done in an extremely long time. If I am out and driving, as soon as I experience some discomfort, I head home and I don't drive for a day or two. I just started driving about 2 months ago. What a feeling of freedom!

I am doing a lot of work on the computer. I try to remember to get up and move around every so often. I am learning how to create a website for starters.

@upstatephil Congratulations on your surgery anniversary. I think we all do that and take note when the history of a date of surgical intervention changes our lives. Transplant patients do this too. It's funny, I also broke my ankle, but I don't remember what date. I do remember the date I had the surgical plate removed from my ankle. Perhaps it's because I planned that, but didn't plan for the injury and the initial 2 surgeries to fix it.

Jennifer