SURGERY for spinal stenosis & lumbar spinal fusion

72!
BTW - I'm 70 and have problems myself with neck and lower spine issues, a hip which needs replacement and I had left shoulder surgery in mid May. I got out of my sling two days before her surgery!

Definitely use your kids and HB to help - it's a good thing having them help already.

Yikes, you two have a lot going on. Hope you both are recovering.

Hi, I’m interested to read what comments you receive , I’m in the same situation , but quite wary of having surgery . Let me ask you please , mine is ok during the day I can manage quite well L but sleeping is horrible , I have tried many cervical pillows , wedges and cat , yo no avail, how do you manage .

@draw I've had two lumbar decompressions. All 5 of my siblings have had a lot more than that for back problems. I seem to have dodged that bullet, except for some stenosis that was probably the result of a fall from a ladder, landing sitting on the ground with my back against a concrete wall. Avoidable. Oops!

The advice from my siblings is that I avoid surgery beyond decompression. Fusions and rods have been hard on them, so unless it becomes clear that such procedures are needed, I'm going with the least invasive treatment. That's not to say that I'd refuse surgery if I get to that place, but if that time does come, I'll be asking for input from more than one doctor, for sure.

I trust that the responses to your post are proving to be helpful.

Jim

In August 2023 I had a Laminectomy and double spinal fusion. I was 71. Nine months later I am dealing with several issues, foot drop ( which I fell on in Dec. and fractured) torso pain which was inflammatory in nature due to trauma of the surgery ( Celebrex helped relieve that) and now opposite side pain that stretches down from lower back/ butt/ thigh which doc says is tendinitis. I had been on Gabapentin the first 5 months but it really didn’t get rid of the shock like nerve pain that still radiated down into my calf/ foot. So I started Lyrica and this did help relieve that nerve pain. Now I take Tylenol only. I still have pain, mostly during sleep and in the morning until my body wakes up. Something about my body being compressed while laying down aggravates things. Just recently my surgeon thinks he sees loosening of the screws in the hardware in my back. That is scary. My bones are not of a 25 year old. I had to have this surgery though. I was developing drop foot which impeded normal walking and the vertebra had shifted and was pressing on the nerve root. L4 L5. S1. I hope this helps. Everyone is different. We all have various issues and age/ gender plays a role. I use trek pokes to walk outdoors. I’m unsteady but I hate the orthotic brace that was made for me. Biggest advice: walk walk walk after surgery.

Everyone’s experience is different. At age 73 I had a multi- level laminectomy and L4-L5 fusion September 2022.. I recovered well with minor residuals including leg weakness and foot numbness. My advice is get multiple surgical opinions from reputable neurosurgeons, take pain pills after surgery as long as you need them, follow the no BLT instructions, follow PT instructions and diligently to your exercises ( I still do) and have realistic expectations on recovery- it takes 9-12 months for a full recovery. Good luck.

Wife had a similar surgery in mid June 2023. They told her a year to recover. Some of the odds/ends you may want to consider. My memory may be off for timing of things and I wasn't the patient (thankfully, although my time may come...).

The 50 mile trip home from the hospital was awful - plan your route for the smoothest way home in the softest riding vehicle you can find and drive gently.

The pressure on the nerve root which caused intense pain down her leg was resolved fairly quickly - within days. She still sleeps in a recliner due to pain/inability to get in/out and sleep in her bed. Quality of the recliner is a very big deal when you're sleeping in it for so long. Hers has electric adjustment for the leg rest and the back - no pulling a lever for adjustments.

One thing they did was take some of her bone grindings and mixed it with cadaver bone to rebuild (my words) the vertebrae. Supposedly heals faster/better than cadaver bone.

You will be running back to the surgeon/ortho team for regular checkups and exams and regularly scheduled PT visits depending on need.

She has gradually reduced use of a rollator over time, but still uses it when having to walk more than a mile, ground is uneven or needs to transport something. Was walking about 1/2 mile before winter. Recently replaced the rollator for with walking poles. Now is using a treadmill and working up distance pending consistently better weather. She has a back brace which she calls a turtle shell and has used that less and less over time.

In general, it takes significant recovery to be able to negotiate steps. Railings on steps (even two steps) are necessary as are safety bars in showers. You are definitely a fall risk. Forget taking a tub bath until fully healed.

Also will need a home healthcare aide for a while to help with wound care, showers, follow-up checks. You may need domestic help if you don't have a capable significant other - cooking, cleaning, taking pets outside, transportation. Helpful to have this arranged before the surgery.

She returned to school bus driving last November. I think that was probably premature because of the strain getting up the steps to the driver's seat.

Recently, she was finally able to negotiate the stairway to get to our lower level. Progress!

Probably the most irritating thing about this was the delay because all the things the medical system tried and which failed before they finally begrudgingly settled on surgery. A lot of pain/disability working through that gauntlet. Very thankful that our PT insistently pushed this to a surgeon.

Hope this helps.

This has been very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to write. I live about 60 miles from the hospital. And, turn 73 this month. So, thanks again. You have been encouraging & helpful.