1. < Spine Health
Profile picture for katie215

Severe spinal stenosis

Posted by katie215 @katie215, Aug 15, 2020

Age 71yo old gal here. L5S1 autofusion, Grace II spondylolisthesis. Severe spinal stenosis complicated by significant impingement L5 nerves, both foramen caused by loss of foramenal height. Extensive spurring. Surgery ruled out due to possible need to refracture autofusion.

Ergo, surviving with opioid "cocktail", gabapentin, +++twisting, burning, stabbing pain, both calves and thighs, 24/7.

Very cooperative helping husband but wearing thin on perseverance here. Cannot imagine another 10+ years of this with a brain that's operating at warp speed.

Perhaps there is someone somewhere sharing these same issues looking at same future.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

Profile picture for reets70
reets70 | @reets70 | Sep 29, 2024
In reply to @henryjames "I’ve dealt with the same issue in the morning with spinal stenosis. What’s helped me is..." + (show)
Profile picture for henryjames @henryjames

I’ve dealt with the same issue in the morning with spinal stenosis. What’s helped me is sleeping with a pillow under my knees to keep my spine aligned, stretching gently before bed, and using a heating pad at night. In the morning, I do light stretches in bed before getting up. It doesn’t eliminate the discomfort, but it helps reduce that stiffness and difficulty walking when I wake up. You might want to ask your doctor about adjusting your routine or meds, too.

Jump to this post

I also have the same issue upon wakening in the morning. I hold onto walls, furniture, etc for the first hour or so, then I start to move much better. I’m fine until around 4 pm and it starts all over again. The only relief is laying flat in my bed with a pillow under my knees.

REPLY
Profile picture for rainerhans
rainerhans | @rainerhans | Sep 29, 2024
In reply to @loriesco "1) must have a good bed. Soft at the shoulders firm thru the lumbar legs 2)..." + (show)
Profile picture for loriesco @loriesco

1) must have a good bed. Soft at the shoulders firm thru the lumbar legs
2) try sleeping a bit elevated
3) MUST TRY: Radio Frequency Ablatia (RFI/RFA) in your stenosis facet joints. It helps better than anything I've ever tried. Not consequential as far as no steroids or drug interactions. Can be a permanent fix. But might need again. there is pulse and heat. Heat only works for me. first time it lasted 15 years for me.
Massage
4) Acupuncture
5) anything that increases circulation and gets the blood through the stenosised joints smoothly.
Maybe you have some modicum of edema. If so, control that and you will feel MUCH better. We get swelling morning/night with edema and creates problems with stenosis.
My stenosis is pretty well controlled now. The ablation was the best thing for me. covered by Medicare.

Jump to this post

Any advise one a good mattress?

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for galesr
galesr | @galesr | Sep 30, 2024
In reply to @mick472 "I was just diagnosed a couple months ago with lumbar spinal stenosis. I have good days..." + (show)
Profile picture for mick472 @mick472

I was just diagnosed a couple months ago with lumbar spinal stenosis. I have good days and uncomfortable days. I am not in severe pain, but very limited on what I can do so I don't aggravate it. But, I am having a terrible time upon wake up for some reason. I have to hold on to doors, wall whatever, as I can hardly walk. It eventually subsides as I take a anti-inflammatory and hang on in a hot shower for about 20 minutes. Does anyone have this problem or better yet a routine at night to help prevent this in the AM?

Jump to this post

I had that a few years ago. I had the surgery and was awesome after. If it gets real bad I would highly recommend it.
Sue

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for loriesco
loriesco | @loriesco | Sep 30, 2024
In reply to @rainerhans "Any advise one a good mattress?" + (show)
Profile picture for rainerhans @rainerhans

Any advise one a good mattress?

Jump to this post

I've had some great ones for sure.
I haven't heard of any of these!
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/sleep/best-mattress-for-back-pain/
https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-back-pain/
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/mattresses-for-back-pain/
If you can, go to some different stores and ask around in your area.
I think I've had a Sealy for 25 years from Sit n Sleep. But it got to hard for my shoulders.
So I gave it to my guest room. I have a private label now in my bedroom and I put a foam topper on it. All the lush pillows I use, makes all the difference!
best, Lori

REPLY
Profile picture for heyjoe415
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Oct 1, 2024
In reply to @galesr "I had that a few years ago. I had the surgery and was awesome after. If..." + (show)
Profile picture for galesr @galesr

I had that a few years ago. I had the surgery and was awesome after. If it gets real bad I would highly recommend it.
Sue

Jump to this post

Hi Sue,

Did you get fusion surgery? I had a laminotomy 10 years ago to clear arthritis in S1, L5, and L4. Now I face fusion and am trying to avoid it. What was your experience! Thank you!

Joe

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for heyjoe415
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Oct 1, 2024
In reply to @mick472 "I was just diagnosed a couple months ago with lumbar spinal stenosis. I have good days..." + (show)
Profile picture for mick472 @mick472

I was just diagnosed a couple months ago with lumbar spinal stenosis. I have good days and uncomfortable days. I am not in severe pain, but very limited on what I can do so I don't aggravate it. But, I am having a terrible time upon wake up for some reason. I have to hold on to doors, wall whatever, as I can hardly walk. It eventually subsides as I take a anti-inflammatory and hang on in a hot shower for about 20 minutes. Does anyone have this problem or better yet a routine at night to help prevent this in the AM?

Jump to this post

Hi Mick,

First of all, I'm sorry for what you're going through. I have lumbar stenosis, scoliosis, disc degeneration, and advanced osteoarthritis in my lumbar spine. 10 years ago I had minimally invasive laminotomies at S1, L5, and L4 to remove a ruptured disc and to remove arthritic spurs that were part of the stenosis. This was also used to address sciatica. My surgeon has told me the next time I get pain or sciatica, I'll need fusion. But I've been mostly fine since that surgery.

Short of surgery, there's nothing to be done for stenosis. One thing I would suggest, as illogical as it sounds, never use heat on your back. Heat brings in blood and adds to the inflammation problem. Bottom line - it makes stenosis worse over time. Use ice on the back, always, to reduce inflammation and slow the advance of stenosis.

Laminotomy is one way to surgically address stenosis. Small holes are drilled in the vertebra and the arthritic growth is shaved down, creating more space. This surgery does not mess with the integrity of the vertebra.

I also get up very stiff after sitting for a while (surprisingly, not much in the morning). I recently tried orthotics because of my high arches, and that has helped quite a bit, so you could ask your surgeon and see a podiatrist, or just get sized for Dr. Scholl's inserts for a lot less $$$.

If you don't have pain in your butt or the back of your legs, then the stenosis isn't putting excessive stress on your sciatic nerves. Believe me, you'll know when it does.

I'm 70 y/o now, 5'10" and got my weight from 190 to 160 over the last 12 months. (FWIW I used to be 6'1" and with the scoliosis and disc compression I've shrunk!) I do a lot of core exercises and stretch my upper and lower back everyday. If you don't know how to do this, you can look it up online, or hire a personal trainer for a session or two each week. It's worth it.

I really do hope at least some of this helps. All the best to you Mick.

Joe

REPLY
Profile picture for slkanowitz
slkanowitz | @slkanowitz | Oct 2, 2024
In reply to @mick472 "I was just diagnosed a couple months ago with lumbar spinal stenosis. I have good days..." + (show)
Profile picture for mick472 @mick472

I was just diagnosed a couple months ago with lumbar spinal stenosis. I have good days and uncomfortable days. I am not in severe pain, but very limited on what I can do so I don't aggravate it. But, I am having a terrible time upon wake up for some reason. I have to hold on to doors, wall whatever, as I can hardly walk. It eventually subsides as I take a anti-inflammatory and hang on in a hot shower for about 20 minutes. Does anyone have this problem or better yet a routine at night to help prevent this in the AM?

Jump to this post

The reason this happens in the morning when you first get up is the pressure on the discs is reieved while horizontal and when you first stand up the pressure increases from weight of your upper body. I find it helpful to get to a recliner right away and gradually adjust the chair upward over 20-30 minutes while you have coffee, breakfast. If you’re lucky someone will bring those to you while your spine adjusts. 😀

REPLY
Profile picture for windyshores
windyshores | @windyshores | Oct 2, 2024
In reply to @mick472 "I was just diagnosed a couple months ago with lumbar spinal stenosis. I have good days..." + (show)
Profile picture for mick472 @mick472

I was just diagnosed a couple months ago with lumbar spinal stenosis. I have good days and uncomfortable days. I am not in severe pain, but very limited on what I can do so I don't aggravate it. But, I am having a terrible time upon wake up for some reason. I have to hold on to doors, wall whatever, as I can hardly walk. It eventually subsides as I take a anti-inflammatory and hang on in a hot shower for about 20 minutes. Does anyone have this problem or better yet a routine at night to help prevent this in the AM?

Jump to this post

I have lumbar and cervical stenosis. With the cervical stenosis, I am worse while still horizontal and things improve when I get up and am vertical.

REPLY
Profile picture for bayhorse
bayhorse | @bayhorse | Oct 2, 2024
In reply to @loriesco "1) must have a good bed. Soft at the shoulders firm thru the lumbar legs 2)..." + (show)
Profile picture for loriesco @loriesco

1) must have a good bed. Soft at the shoulders firm thru the lumbar legs
2) try sleeping a bit elevated
3) MUST TRY: Radio Frequency Ablatia (RFI/RFA) in your stenosis facet joints. It helps better than anything I've ever tried. Not consequential as far as no steroids or drug interactions. Can be a permanent fix. But might need again. there is pulse and heat. Heat only works for me. first time it lasted 15 years for me.
Massage
4) Acupuncture
5) anything that increases circulation and gets the blood through the stenosised joints smoothly.
Maybe you have some modicum of edema. If so, control that and you will feel MUCH better. We get swelling morning/night with edema and creates problems with stenosis.
My stenosis is pretty well controlled now. The ablation was the best thing for me. covered by Medicare.

Jump to this post

Did you find that acupuncture helped significantly? I have severe stenosis and cannot take a lot of pain relievers because of side effects.

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for bayhorse
bayhorse | @bayhorse | Oct 2, 2024
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@mick472 Welcome to Connect. I understand you are trying to live with the condition, but have..." + (show)
Profile picture for Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor @jenniferhunter

@mick472 Welcome to Connect. I understand you are trying to live with the condition, but have your doctors who made this diagnosis offered any treatment such as a surgical decompression?

Jump to this post

Surgical decompression? Have not heard of this. Can you say a bit more?

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.