@gotoandrea, can you write a little more about the stenosis. Do you know cause and how long have you been struggling with it.

I have had x-rays and MRIs that confirm that I have severe stenosis in 2 areas. I am 79. I have had restless leg syndrome since I was 18 years old. I had tarsal tunnel surgery in July 2023 and then I had a stroke in December 2023. It my right hand and leg and seemed to keep my leg from recovering. I have numbness in my right leg. My neurologist said that I have lumbar radiculopathy. My physical therapist son and my personal physical therapist and my pain management and also neurologist all think that my back is causing my numbness. I started taking Lyrica in March 2024 -50 mg in am and 50 mg in pm. I gradually have gone off the 50 mg of lyrica in AM and able to cope, but still have trouble at night even though still take 50 mg at night. I am not sure that the lyrica is even helping. I did not like the side effects during the daytime. I feel so much better in the daytime without the lyrica in the morning. I am wondering if the Lyrica is actually causing some numbness along with the numbness from my stenosis. Does it make sense for me to reduce 50 mg to 25mg at night????? I still do my physical therapy exercises. The neurologist does not want me to have steroid injections for my stenosis until after the one year anniversary of my 2024 stroke.
I can no longer take ibuprofen because of my plavix blood thinner. I am afraid to take a muscle relaxer. Soaking in the bathtub helps my leg often to help me sleep. I have on iron and Vitamin C to help my restless leg because my iron was low. I have been using a CPAP machine for 20 years. My sleep apnea number is 6. Both tests have showed that the restless legs was more of a problem.
Any suggestions?

@loyal, https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/commonly-prescribed-drug-for-lower-back-pain-not-effective
Lyrica is known to cause numbness.
You figured out what it took researchers a long time to discover. . But don't reduce your dose without a physician's help. You should taper down or off gradually. There are some unpleasant withdrawal effects.

doriskay,
spondylo means vertebra. Lythesis is sliding downward. litis is inflammation . losis word is problem referring medically to the wearing down of the spinal vertebra.
Any one of these can cause pressure on the nerves exiting the spine. These conditions can cause periperal neuropathy resulting in foot twitching, restless leg or numbness.

I had lower back and buttock pain related to a hard fall on my back. The only thing that helped were meds and a spinal cord stimulator. Got my life back. Was able to go cycling again, work around the ouse, and go walking. Pain reduced by about 70-80%.

I have had three spinal surgeries. C4-C7, L1-L3 or something like that, and C3-C4. Now, I am being told I need a fourth surgery from C7- T 2. I refused. I am sick to death of all the poking and medication. Now, I am on Morphine 15 mg. To be honest, last night I just wished it would be all over. Then I remembered I was just married on 09/20/24. It would not be fair to my husband, but I wonder, how is this mess fair to me?

Pain stimulator has been mentioned. I refuse. I don’t want any type of cutting on my body. I am on morphine but not the pump. If it involves cutting I am not doing it. Thank you for asking. Have a wonderful day.

I have had numbness in both legs, Spinal stenosis, getting worse. Use to take sleeping pills to go into sleep mode. Did not like those pills. Someone recommended meditation. Now I am listening 1 hour at bedtime and 1 hour before getting at morning time. Many times I wake up in middle of the night and discover my cell is still connected to Meditation site. Here is the meditation site: Inside Timer. Enjoy!

I am amazed when I read these comments about back pain. I have scoliosis and a ruptured disc. A back specialist told me that an operation would put me into a wheel chair. I do believe that we are all just experimental specimens. So I depend on Hydrocodon or Advil, depending on the degree of pain. You learn to live with it.

The only thing that has ever worked consistently for me is prayer. For healing, for endurance, for patience. I’m praying for you all.