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Considering Laminectomy for Spinal Stenosis to relieve neuropathy pain
Neuropathy | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (19)Comment receiving replies
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop, dlydailyhope (@dlydailyhope)
I have been following the spine health forum along with the osteoporsis forum seeking answers regarding spine surgery. I am now seeking answers regarding neuropathy and permenant nerve damage resulting from spinal stenosis.
I am suffering from spinal stenosis, and degenerative spine disease. I have been living with debilitating pain from it in my lower lumbar for two years (I am 64). When this all started two surgeons said I was inoppearable, so I went down the path of pain management. That was getting nowhere, until 12 months ago I met an orthopedic surgeon who recommended laminectomy and spinal fusion from t10 to s1 to open up the spinal column to releive the stenosis.
It has been a long year coming to grips with this massive surgery, and just recently I decided to do it. I chose a neurosurgeon to do the surgery but he is postponing it for nine more months. In the past 3 months, my symptoms of neuropathy have become constant. Prior to 3 months ago it was intermittent and somewhat insignificant to me.
I met with a pain management doctor today and he recommended an epidural injection and hope we hit the spot. Possible ablation treatment later. But even if these treatments give me temporary relief, will the nerves continue to be damaged...even though I might not feel the pain, are the treatments only masking it while my body continues to damage the nerves? will these treatments delay permenant damage?
One year ago I didn't have this pain. Given the fact that over the past couple of months, the constant numbness in my feet, pain in my upper thigh to my knees and lower back pain, I want to avoid permenant damage to the nerves that are causing these symptoms. Is there anything I can do to prevent permenant nerve damage while wait to schedule the surgery? My neurosurgeon is putting me off for nine more months!?!? I can't wait that long while my nerves are shot to death waiting on him. I really need some help here.
I don't have any autoimmune diseases, I am not obese, don't smoke, take my daily 6 oz of wine (haha), but not an alchoholic. I am actually very healthy, except for the trifecta of problems in my spine.
Any input on this would be appreciated.
Replies to "John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop, dlydailyhope (@dlydailyhope) I have been following the spine health forum along..."
@berniej1, I also have degenerative disc disease which I'm sure plays a part in my lower back issues. I don't have the pain that you experience but I do have lower back aches which makes it difficult for walking any distance. I also have neuropathy in my feet and lower legs but only the numbness and some tingling.
@jenniferhunter started a discussion on Myofascial Release Therapy which I think might be helpful and she may have other suggestions on your back surgery plan. Here's the discussion:
-- Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
It's great to hear that you are very healthy as I'm sure that also plays an important part with any surgeries you may have. Did your neurosurgeon give any reasons for postponing the surgery for nine months?
I do get real lasting relief from "facet injections" on my lower back for back pain. After doing this 3 times over 2 years they switched to nerve ablation and that also worked well. I still have some residual pain but it's not debilitating. I actually play a little golf.
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@berniej1
I should have mentioned that both my cervical and lumbar decompression/fusion surgeries relieved my pain significantly and some weakness improved over time (headaches/neck and shoulder, back, and hips). I still have residual weakness and balance issues due to my injured spinal cord (myelopathy) in my cervical spine due to misdiagnosis/delayed diagnosis over 5 years. I had some doctors think I was a hypochondriac when I was actually suffering with many symptoms due to my spinal cord being compressed and injured. Doctors are human, make mistakes, can miss things and not put puzzle pieces together properly, can be arrogant/ignorant, may not care to make patients’ quality of life better, etc. which is why it is so important to educate and advocate for ourselves.