Radiculopathy

Posted by ttutor @ttutor, May 5 9:34am

I have L3,4,5 radiculopathy particularly L4, L5 ,6 years worsened after L5S1 fusion. 3 weeks ago biking 50 miles a week and Hot Yoga and 40 years in and out of gyms and long distance biking and now a sharp pain in right glut with sciatica and cant hardly bend forward.. One L4/5 decompression 2 years ago due to foot numbness adding nephropathy also up the legs. I am informed "no more surgery Failed surgery syndrome"...I am not sure how I will learn to adjust just starting physical therapy again. Has anyone been through something similar? How do you cope with this please? Any comments appreciated as my athletic life at almost 75 is over.

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healthseeker77 | @healthseeker77 | May 6 3:25pm

I hear your pain. Have you considered getting a second opinion? It is shocking to me that someone as active as you received that directive from your doctor.

Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | May 7 1:17pm

@ttutor I wanted to welcome you to Connect. I'm sorry about your continuing spine issues. I know for me, physical therapy helps a lot. I am a cervical spine surgery patient, and fortunately don't have lumbar issues. My physical therapist is also certificated in the John Barnes methods of myofascial release. Every surgery creates scar tissue that gets tight and restricts movement and it can cause a lot of pain. When you release these restrictions and let the body move better, it functions better and reduces pain. Scar tissue can get very tight and this helps my surgical scar tissue. I also had surgeries for a broken ankle that happened 4 years ago, and MFR is helping that too because scar tissue was causing my ankle to collapse when I was walking, which is better now after stretching the scar tissue.

Here is a link where you can explore MFR
Neuropathy - "Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
I do know that John Barnes, the therapist who developed MFR also had a failed spine surgery in his neck where the bones did not fuse. He has managed because of doing his therapy techniques, and he is an older guy now.

Did your physical therapist work out adaptive exercises for you? I used to ride a bike when I was younger, but now, I don't want my neck forward and to put stress on my spine with exercise that has jarring impact. What I really love to do is to ride my horse just at a walk on the trails. That is actually great for core strength which supports the spine. There are many therapeutic riding centers where this is physical therapy assisted by the horse. I find my horse strengthens my back much better than anything I can do in a gym. Would that be something that may help you? Your physical therapist may be able to advise. Are you able to walk for exercise? That is good for the spine too.

Jennifer