What helps spinal stenosis besides surgery?

Am suffering with spinal stenosis my dr.recomend back surgery but later found that I have a very low pulse rate at the moment the surgery is on hold am 69 should I still have surgery almost close to 70yrs any advise please

I actually did try the NeuroMD and didn’t find it very helpful. I had several “technical” problems with it. Sold it online to someone but of course lost $$ on it.

I had surgery in 2011 which helped but then developed more stenosis problems at another level. Didn’t want another fusion which was offered to me. I am now 70.

I tried injections etc but it got worse to point I was limping and occ used a cane. I then tried a spinal cord stimulator trial which helped and so had a permanent one put in this January. It has definitely helped me and I am glad I did it. Not everyone seems helped by them. It was an “easy” surgery, went home within hours. The hardest part was all the movement restrictions afterwards for several months. I did it in winter so I could be outside in my yard and garden this summer. I live alone and it made me plan ahead and get creative, but I managed!

Always get at least two opinions! Why does your doctor say surgery won’t help?

Did you the the classes or find some good results from the Gokhale book/videos?
Thank you!

Hello. This is my first posting and I apologize in advance if I'm a little long winded. I'm just really terrified and would love some consult and/or experienced assistance. I have been dealing with a lot of compounding back issues. I have lumbar stenosis, cervical stenosis. In the last couple of years I have had physical therapy, injections. A surgeon I was referred to stated that I needed the surgery. I can't remember how to spell this. It consists of opening up my back and removing disks and fusing other parts together. I'm sorry I botched this whole thing up. Anyways, he informed me that as long as we delay the surgery my back will continue to affect the nerves and there's no way of repairing the already damaged nerves. I was also told that I couldn't have the surgery until I resolve my dental issues he wouldn't be able to do the surgery. Long story. I've been in a holding pattern for 2 years now. I can't go to a dentist. I won't go to a dentist. I'm a real child when it comes to this. Any ways, I'm having an MRI on the 20th of Dec. to update. I'm alone I have lost my dad and my mom to heart disease. Everyone else has gone. Anyone, who has read this so far are very patient. I appreciate that. I'm also a diabetic, arthritic. I have autoimmune disease and thyroid. I only mention these incase it made a difference. What I really need help with is the nightime pain in my arms at night that wakes me out of a sound sleep to sitting on the side of my bed crying and pacing the floor for half an hour till it subsides a little. Both of my feet are numb up to my shins. My hands are both swollen and hurting from the arthritis. Ok. I'm done. If anyone has any thoughts? I'm open. and I really am sorry to go on. This really the first time I've put all this out there. I read all the postings on your forum. It makes me feel a little less alone to know others are coping and I can too. Thank you!

Hello. May I ask if you have been checked for Hoshimotos ( not sure of spelling) it a thyroid issue.
As for your hands and arms try lifting them w pillows also sleeping w pillow between your shoulders on your sides . I have about 7 pillows in my bed to help to get into a position to sleep sometimes takes numerous positioning but it does help. Also try movements in arms and hands as much as you possible can before going to sleep. I also use a hot rub on areas it try to relieve pain. Sometimes even vicks the menthol scent helps due to scent making brain feel sensation of relief. Scent makes my sinuses open for better breathing which helps prolong sleep.
These are just things I use , I pray this helps.

Hello. This is my first posting and I apologize in advance if I'm a little long winded. I'm just really terrified and would love some consult and/or experienced assistance. I have been dealing with a lot of compounding back issues. I have lumbar stenosis, cervical stenosis. In the last couple of years I have had physical therapy, injections. A surgeon I was referred to stated that I needed the surgery. I can't remember how to spell this. It consists of opening up my back and removing disks and fusing other parts together. I'm sorry I botched this whole thing up. Anyways, he informed me that as long as we delay the surgery my back will continue to affect the nerves and there's no way of repairing the already damaged nerves. I was also told that I couldn't have the surgery until I resolve my dental issues he wouldn't be able to do the surgery. Long story. I've been in a holding pattern for 2 years now. I can't go to a dentist. I won't go to a dentist. I'm a real child when it comes to this. Any ways, I'm having an MRI on the 20th of Dec. to update. I'm alone I have lost my dad and my mom to heart disease. Everyone else has gone. Anyone, who has read this so far are very patient. I appreciate that. I'm also a diabetic, arthritic. I have autoimmune disease and thyroid. I only mention these incase it made a difference. What I really need help with is the nightime pain in my arms at night that wakes me out of a sound sleep to sitting on the side of my bed crying and pacing the floor for half an hour till it subsides a little. Both of my feet are numb up to my shins. My hands are both swollen and hurting from the arthritis. Ok. I'm done. If anyone has any thoughts? I'm open. and I really am sorry to go on. This really the first time I've put all this out there. I read all the postings on your forum. It makes me feel a little less alone to know others are coping and I can too. Thank you!

Thank you so much! I'm about at the end of my rope with this pain thing in my arms-all of a sudden I wake up and both my arms are throbbing and feels like theres no blood flow. Just pain. I have spent this last two weeks sitting on the couch rubbing my arms and crying. I currently have Gabapentin and two night Tylenol pm. But I also take metformin, Simvastatin, Glipizide and a magnesium supplement. But thats just at night time. I just read something yesterday that said the Cervical stenosis COULD cause this arm pain. Never occurred to me that it wasn't the Lumbar stenosis. Now maybe I can get some sleeping position with the pillows etc. to take some of the pressure off my neck and arm pain. Thank you for the pillow advice.

@djspiker Welcome to Connect. I understand where you are coming from as I have shared the same fears. I want to tell you that if you work for it, you can overcome those fears that are holding you back. I used to be terrified of the dentist, and as a child, I broke my front teeth which started a pattern of dental work that over the years failed and had to be redone, and with some dentists lacking empathy, I was so fearful that I would pass out. That fear is what I had to work on before I could go through spine surgery. I knew that if I didn't have spine surgery, I would loose my ability to work as an artist. It was already happening as my arms became weak and lost coordination. How could I give up what I loved doing the most (my artwork) and let a spine condition cause increasing disability? I saw my parents in wheelchairs and was a caregiver to them, and I knew I did not want a future like that. I was lucky because I had a choice. The choice was not difficult because I did that for love to save my ability to record the beauty in the world that I see. It was just overcoming the fear of the unknown and pain, and I devised a lot of ways to work on that.

I also lost my dad to end stage heart disease, and it was right after his passing that I got a call from Mayo with an appointment for a consultation. Even though I was afraid, I had to advocate for myself because I had a situation that surgeons misunderstood and didn't want to touch. I had spinal cord compression in my neck that caused pain all over my body. That is what scared them because they thought that fixing the compression wouldn't solve all the pain. I knew they were wrong because they didn't listen to the clues I was giving them in how I could reproduce or change where the pain went. 5 surgeons turned me down, and with each of them, I had to face the real possibility of surgery when I met them, and afterward when they were not interested, I asked myself, well why was I afraid of that? I had to remember it was my choice, and no one was forcing me to do anything. The surgeons are scared too because they don't want a failed surgery or bad outcome that could ruin their reputation. It was after I found medical literature with cases similar to mine, that I approached a surgeon at Mayo. He helped me with his expertise, and above all that, he was kind and empathetic which I hadn't experienced before with any of the other surgeons who examined me.

I know that fear has many levels to it. Lets start with some small steps. If you will look at this discussion and watch the video at the beginning, you'll learn about how I designed my own therapy to get myself through the fear of the surgery that I needed. I can honestly tell you, it was one of the best things I have ever done. I never expected to get past my fear of medical trauma, but I did and it changed me for the better. Fear doesn't prevent me from seeking help or advocating for myself and others. That's why I'm here as a mentor because these journeys are very difficult to navigate.

I'm glad to meet you, @djspiker and you are not alone. The video is a podcast where I was interviewed in a show called "Your Positive Imprint".

"How Can I Defeat my Anxiety about Medical Tests and Surgery?"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-can-i-defeat-my-anxiety-about-medical-tests-and-surgery/