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Anyone have experience with spinal decompression
Chronic Pain | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (34)Comment receiving replies
I agree that everyone respinds to surgeon's techniques and procedures differently. I'm fortunate that the decompression I had to literally shave bone to allow the nerve to flow through the lamina at L4/L5. This took away 50% of my pain and my drop foot disappeared regaining strength in my left leg and foot. UPMC agreed to perfom the same exact proceedure however, I went with the Laser Spine Institute who is no longer in practice. It definitely helped me however, my spine is degenerative and mechanical so I must be extremely careful with lifting and movement. Years and years of physical therapy, weight loss, lifestyle change and yoga have helped maintain my chronic pain. It's inevitable that I will need another surgery since the decompression was like a tuneup that helped without fusion and/or lamina removal, rods/pins.
Replies to "I agree that everyone respinds to surgeon's techniques and procedures differently. I'm fortunate that the decompression..."
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You are lucky. I recently had a laminectomy and discetomy in October with my neuro surgeon. I was doing better with the cronic back pain, but within the last 2 weeks, I've developed numbness and tingling in both legs that is annoying. I work with a pain specialist, and he has tried 10 different small procedures to lessen my cronic back pain. This all started 10 years ago when I had a spinal fusion at L5/S1. It's is downhill after then. My last try was a spinal stimulator which I had high hopes. Unfortunately, that didn't help. I have been on Norco from my pain specialist for five years to get me to function, since I live alone. I still have limits to what I can do, like take long walks. I use to like traveling, but can no longer go on long trips.
My primary doctor said to lose 20 pounds, do yoga, and go for short walks. He gave me Wegovey to help me lose weight since I have difficult dieting. We'll see what happens. I like your post because it sounds like my primary's advise.