SURGERY for spinal stenosis & lumbar spinal fusion

My first spine surgery, which included rods for L3 and L4 lasted 20years. But just this past year, when my overall health began to deteriorate, I was diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers- Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disease. The old rods began to fail, and then my L5 deteriorated, setting my pain levels on fire until the day I simply could not get out of bed. Emergency surgery on L4-5 followed, with replacement of the old rods and a new one for L5. Recovery hasn’t been as easy as it was in my’50’s, but at least I can stand up and walk when I feel the need

I had the exact same surgery a year ago from last January and I'll tell you, in my case it almost seemed to make it worse! I'm taking 1200 mgs of gabapentin a day with not much relief. My knee joints always feel like they want to give out, my feet tingle and go numb. I still have lots of lower back pain. Not all cases are the same so maybe, hopefully, you'll have better luck!

Thank you for your acknowledgment and support. The time lapse since the spinal fusion of L5-S1 has been almost ten years. I am wondering when the rods will wear down. After the spinal cord stimulator was placed in last year, which has been successful, the neurosurgeon who placed it in, is very communicative and responsive when I contact him. He referred me to a scoliosis neuro at the Barrow in Phoenix, and he ordered imaging. Thank goodness he ordered a CT Scan and not a MRI, as with the SCS, it is a vey laborious process when in the "tunnel". I lightly freaked out the last time, as it was to be two 30 minute sessions, and I could only handle one session. I am looking forward to seeing the specialist next month, and go from there. My curiosity and interest is what the curvature is. I am extremely active, just turned 69, and cannot think of being on the sidelines.

I had the exact same surgery a year ago from last January and I'll tell you, in my case it almost seemed to make it worse! I'm taking 1200 mgs of gabapentin a day with not much relief. My knee joints always feel like they want to give out, my feet tingle and go numb. I still have lots of lower back pain. Not all cases are the same so maybe, hopefully, you'll have better luck!

@maxiandmary Hello and welcome to Connect. I'm sorry your surgery didn't give you better results. Have you followed up with your surgeon about this or sought a second opinion elsewhere? Have you had any recent imaging that could define the problem?

Jennifer

Thank you for your acknowledgment and support. The time lapse since the spinal fusion of L5-S1 has been almost ten years. I am wondering when the rods will wear down. After the spinal cord stimulator was placed in last year, which has been successful, the neurosurgeon who placed it in, is very communicative and responsive when I contact him. He referred me to a scoliosis neuro at the Barrow in Phoenix, and he ordered imaging. Thank goodness he ordered a CT Scan and not a MRI, as with the SCS, it is a vey laborious process when in the "tunnel". I lightly freaked out the last time, as it was to be two 30 minute sessions, and I could only handle one session. I am looking forward to seeing the specialist next month, and go from there. My curiosity and interest is what the curvature is. I am extremely active, just turned 69, and cannot think of being on the sidelines.

I am extremely claustrophobic but, with the help of a 10mg valium, I recently easily spent an hour in the MRI (with the helmet on, no less). Ask your doctor for help when confronting the "tunnel."

I am extremely claustrophobic but, with the help of a 10mg valium, I recently easily spent an hour in the MRI (with the helmet on, no less). Ask your doctor for help when confronting the "tunnel."

I am in the same situation, just got my diagnosis and start this journey as well.
I would like to follow and hear advices,
Thank you.