Will I ever recover from my operation for spinal stenosis?

I don’t have prior spine surgery or stenosis, but generally moving makes me feel much better. The exception is my knee. I ease up on it, if I’ve been doing certain activities and feel pain. But, I resume activities the next day. It’s much worse if I stay home from the gym.

I have not heard of the book. I will check it out.
My L4L5 fusion for spinal stenosis was on May 28, 2021. I am still in pain. Like you, I cannot sit at my computer very long. I had to get rid of my nice desk when my brother bought me a desk table that rises and lowers. Even then, I cannot stand for long periods, either. If I must sit or stand for very long, I have had to hang on and bear it. No relief from meds, and some I tried just knocked me out.
Like you, if I just keep on my feet doing things my back gets some relief, and by the time I go to bed I am in pretty good shape. I love laundry day, or any option to just do projects that keep me getting up and doing. But it isn’t always an option. Meetings, computer work, things that require sitting are a necessary part of life.
When I wake, the pain is gone and I start all over, again.
I’ve been to three doctors. I gave up on the surgeon’s PA when he kept telling me there was nothing wrong. Another osteo office told me it was my SI joint (then why does my lower back ache?) and now I’m on to the next. He has not started on my back, yet. He’s trying to help me with the CRPS in my fractured left wrist.
When I had the choice to have the surgery, or not, of course the surgeon and PA felt there would be no issues. I do not know if it is CRPS. If so, why is my pain alleviated while asleep (not lying down, asleep), but starts again with each new day?

I hear you! You sound like me. The surgeon just said, I have two choices. a. stay on the painkillers (Tramadol & Gabapentin for the rest of my life or b. the operation with no guarantees.

I am glad I took the operation. There is hope for improvement with drugs--No.

I went back to my chiropractor about 6 months after the operation. The first treatment was fantastic! I made the mistake of going back again a week later. It took me ages to get over it.

I went back a few weeks ago and he only worked on my neck and did stretching and slight twisting of my right leg. Fantastic again.

Yesterday was a great day! I spent at least 6 hours on the computer filling out a form that I could not save. I am still feeling great today!

The frustration is not knowing what works best.

I have a fear of chiropractors after one injured my aunt when she was my age. I do get the suggestion, sometimes. If I could find a very good one, I think I'll give it a try. Thank you for your post. How I would like a day like that!!!

Physical activity outside in the sunshine is 'good medicine'!!!

It’s hard to know what will work and what won’t. Sometimes you just have to try. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, have a crash pad handy 🙂

Make daily physical activity an iron fast routine....if your primary care physician approves. No excuses!! I enjoy water aerobics twice a week and the rest of the week do everything from working in my yard to weekend camping with a Chickasaw Council Scout Troop. IF YOU DON'T USE YOUR BODY, YOU WILL LOSE IT FROM LACK OF ACTIVITY...AND DIE! Yes, I suffer from all the same aches and pains each is increasingly awarded with each additional GOLDEN YEAR!!!

Try acupuncture. I mildly believed in it. Then my daughter injured herself at work. She dragged her right leg for at least a year. Then one day, we were to meet at a restaurant for lunch. I started to get up to meet her. She called." Stay there." Suddenly, I realized that she was walking normally. She gets acupuncture at least once a month--and it works.

I am getting acupuncture every two weeks. It doesn't hurt that my acupuncturist has had the same operation years ago. She has given me the best advice so far.

Today appears to be another "good day." I even went shopping at Winners. It was not a good day for my pocket book!

I have had two back surgeries—L4-L5, then L1-L4. Like you i was afraid of chiropractic work. However, i recently started with one who uses the COX method/table and i am amazed at my progress.

I just had a laminotomy for lumbar stenosis, L3-4 on March 1. The first nine days I was feeling great, could walk without pain, then I started noticing a dull pain on my left side where they had put the blood drain in. A few days later when I stepped onto a step I had a sharp pain on that side and from then on I can't sit down or stand up without a sharp pain. Which even makes sitting on the toilet a challenge. They gave me Oxycodone which maybe helps for a few hours but I still have the sharp pain.
I am starting to think I was better off without the surgery, although I was in a different kind of pain.
They just told me I have to be patient. Initially they told me in 6 weeks I should be mostly better, but I am at week three and that seems impossible.
This is hell, excuse my French.