Will I ever recover from my operation for spinal stenosis?

That worked for me pre surgery, but now I am having some pain when I walk.

Ask your surgeon if physical therapy could help you. A physical therapist can teach you specific exercises that will strengthen specific muscles, thereby making movement of a limb far less painful.

My recent surgery was not fit spinal stenosis, but I think what I’m going to say applies to both. I can do the same (good or not-so-good) things every day for a week and have varying experiences with pain, stiffness and swelling. I can be lying still in bed and have a sudden, intense pain occur along the incision pathway. When I ask “what am I doing wrong or what else do I need to be doing?!” My PT and my surgeon both remind me that nerves take a VERY long time to re-grow and re-connect into circuits after surgery or trauma. My surgeon also said that each body has its own timetable and that there are often slight drops in overall pain, stiffness and swelling after 3 months, 6 months, 8 months, 12 and 14 months, and so on. This does not mean there won’t be more intensely challenging days or weeks in there. Keeping a diary of what you’re able to do and how much pain, stiffness and/or swelling you experience can help you keep perspective of change over the long haul, and can give you some reassurance that you’re continuing to move in a good direction. And, yes, PT can be incredibly helpful over the long haul, with ultrasound, cupping, massage and exercises to strengthen, increase flexibility and balance, stamina, etc. My PT also keeps notes and can tell me that the angles at which I can now bend have increased or decreased, for example. Lastly, activities such as sauna or float tanks can support the relief, if you can possibly access them. Floating takes almost all the pressure off the body and allows tight muscles to release tension. The sauna helps to sweat out by-products of metabolism so that the body doesn’t have to work quite so hard at the cellular and tissue levels. My personal experience, when I can afford this (rarely), is increased energy, decreased pain and lightened mood.

I wish you continued progress in your healing and rehab, and clarity about whether your body is moving along its pathway at a rate that is expected/necessary or something else is needed.

I'm not even a month post-op and I see the surgeon this Thursday the 28th of March, but so far they don't want me to do any kind of physical therapy or anything close to that. I'll find out more when I see him.

I wasn't told anything regarding recovery. I started noticing improvement around the end of September. Have you seen your doctor yet? Has he taken out the stitches yet? I thought there was improvement after they were taken out. I wonder if something else is going on?

I can go days without any painkillers now. I had a bad day yesterday. I had spent about 12 hours on the computer on Wednesday. Then towards the end of Thursday, I was in pain. It seems that the paid is delayed. Yesterday was miserable until about time to go to bed.

I am grateful I am not on opioids anymore. My mind is clear and that means I can function and complain.

I think you should see your doctor. This may be just a pain that was covered up with painkillers or it could be something else. Don't be a martre. Bon Chance!

I see him on Thursday, but that is five days from now. They won't see me sooner.

That makes sense to me. This is so early. They want to see that your incisions are healing well before that starts. Best wishes!!!!

My fusion with a steel cage for L4/5 was at the end of August 2022. In spring of 2023 pain and weakness began and slowly increased. I tried PT with excellent results until the pain was too much for me to participate. You wouldn’t believe the butt load of pain meds I take: Gabapentin, Duloxetine, Tramadol 300 ER, Tylenol650 ER, Methotrexate, and now Hydrocodone. I’m still in pain when I dare to stand up. All pain is lower body from glutes down both legs. Using a rollator to walk. Rheumatologist cleared me of any auto immune diseases. Spine surgeon said my back is healing beautifully. My last stand is with a Neurologist in a month.

You make me feel like a wimp! I was taking two Tramadol and two Gabapentin four times a day before my operation. I was so determined to get off all that I over dosed on Advil. I was taking it 3 times a day (OK) but I did it for a week straight. I ended up at emergency with very high blood pressure. The emergency doctor said I had a mild heart attack. My cardiologist said he only calls it a heart attack if there is damage! Regardless, it was scary. I haven't taken Advil since. I find an ice pack very helpful and I use Tylenol Extra Strength. At times, it seems like the Tylenol doesn't kick in for hours.

My operation was a year ago, March 23rd. I can't do the marathons at the computer like I used to. I had a document that needed filling out. I couldn't save my changes, so I went from 10:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. with short breaks. No pain until the next day. Then it was misery for a day and then recovery again.

Best of luck! Any chance your body has gotten used to all that medication? I wish I could make some useful suggestions. How about hot and cold showers? Demand an updated x-ray?

I did leave a message for my surgeon. I didn't get a reply. Apparently, he is so focused on operating that he is seldom in the office. I was also told by a friend that he may be afraid to suggest physio because if there are problems, he could be sued! I've asked my family doctor and acupuncturist (who has had the same operation) and the answer is "no" at this time.