Connect
Severe spinal stenosis
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.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.
Connect
Hi Dallas,
Well I'm glad you've been able to reduce reliance on a cane. And icing really works wonders. Too many people choose heat because it feels good immediately. Ice is an acquired taste. But heat draws in blood, white blood cells, and inflammation - increasing pain ultimately.
What does DES stand for?
All the best, friend.
Joe
@heyjoe415 DES = Diethylstilbestrol
It was prescribed to pregnant women between the late 1940s and late 1970s. It is a powerful synthetic hormone that was also a carcinogen and teratogen. It affected my reproductive organs and my spine.
Thanks for the info Dallas and I am so sorry for what happened to you.
Medical science does make progress, but it is slow and measured, and even then, mistakes are made.
In the early 70s I suffered my first panic attack and chronic depression at age 18. I had no idea what was happening, and neither did my frustrated parents, or our "family" doctor whose advice was - "You need to grow up and paddle your own canoe Joe." Geez, thanks doc.
That was before anti-depressants became available, so I've somewhat forgiven the Dr. My parents shunned me though, thinking me mentally ill, and that was taboo around our house. I finally got the help I needed in 2002, almost 30 years later. I also started talk therapy then and continue to this day.
And I am in no way comparing what I went through with your situation. Bad medicine and stigma affects a lot of people.
I wish you the best Dallas. You deserve some good karma.
Joe
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI have same issue... I've been setting an alarm in mornings to wake up an hour before I need to get up, so I can take my Meds, go back to lying down or sleeping more, until I get out of bed an hour later when the meds have kicked-in.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI have a Tempur-Pedic Breeze with an adjustable base. I had to put a walker beside my nightstand as I do the log roll to get out of bed. I need my walker some mornings until the stiffness goes away. Laminectomy and fusion of L2-L4 in March and still not better
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@alicemae yes Alice I know the pain. It is sometimes unbearable or debilitating. It is especially bad after a day before which has been active. Also I keep my walker close to bed to get better strength to stand. The experts say to get out and moving, but the consequences are severe for me. I have always had frozen gel bags — not heat. I put heat on my feet due to poor circulation. My back injury was years ago, complications accumulated over time so I take pain meds just as I wake up. Be aware of your body relaxing, helpful app is Breathr for breathing exercises and meditation. Good mornings how you can modify life. Hugs.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI had triple laminectomy with spinal fusion (L-2 thru L-4) in March taking care of the most serious first (vertebrae pushing into spinal cord) There is profuse stenosis and arthritis from neck to tail bone. Also had right shoulder replacement and left shoulder is shot but I had a mastectomy with lymph nodes removed so they won't replace that shoulder. I have severe gastro issues with narcotics an NSAIDS, so I use a combo of Tylenol, Voltaren arthritis gel and a TENS unit. I sleep on a TemperPedic Breeze that is softer on my shoulders.
@upstatephil Wow, so glad you had success! What kind of surgery did you have? I'm not sure I'm understanding a 4-level job. Thank you.
@coldwinter12 Welcome to Connect. @upstatephil is an Alumni mentor and shared a lot of valuable experience having had both cervical and lumbar spine surgery. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been on Connect in about a year. If you click on his name you can go to his profile to see his comments. There are also other helpful members with similar experiences. I am a cervical surgical patient.
Would you like to introduce yourself and share more about yourself or ask a question?
@mmalone1804 Thank you for sharing this because that is exactly how it started for me but I couldn't have said it any simpler.
I was still in my 20's when that stuff started. Now I'm 35 and had Lumbar fusion last year and just got cervical disc replaced last week smh.