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Lumbar stenosis leg weakness

Posted by wareagle @wareagle, Apr 29, 2024

Does anyone with lumbar spinal stenosis suffer with just weakness in legs.? I have had stenosis for over 8 years that affected my gait. PT helped some for about 5 years, but no longer helps? I do not, have pain fortunately, but my weakness is severe. I feel I will be using a walker in a year. The past two years has gotten worse. My surgeon has never seen a case like mine with no pain, therefore has seen no one with my problem and he does not feel very confident he could help me. Looking for someone like me

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Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | May 5, 2024
In reply to @ikcooley "Like you, had no pain at all, but numbness in both legs if walking over 4..." + (show)
Profile picture for ikcooley @ikcooley

Like you, had no pain at all, but numbness in both legs if walking over 4 blocks. I was insecure walking. It was diagnosed as spinal stenosis in L3 to 5. In November I had a laminectomy and discectomy. Most all of the numbness is gone.

Unfortunately I now have a herniated disc pushing on the nerve root causing sciatica in my right leg and now I have pain. I have an appointment at Mayo mid June. I feel a second surgery will be required to remove the hernia/extrusion.

Because numbness caused by stenosis can be progressive and possibly cause cauda equine leading to loss of bowel and bladder control, I felt it needed the laminectomy surgery. I hope for more information after the Mayo visit.

I consulted with two surgeons before surgery and now aim headed to Rochester Mayo.

Good luck to you! Is there a possibility of a second or even third opinion? Ivie

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@ikcooley Ivie, I’m happy for you with your upcoming appointment at Mayo. I hope you’ll share your experience. I think of Mayo as my happy place where I was healed. It’s a special place and there are some interesting things you can do in addition to appointments like tour the home of Charlie Mayo known as Mayowood. That is through the historical museum.

Did you choose your hotel? I like Candlewood Suites.

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orloffjr | @orloffjr | May 7, 2024

Hello
unless I missed it you haven't referred to any imaging? Have you had an MRI?

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divedoc94 | @divedoc94 | Feb 11 10:06am

I have bilateral weakness in my quads with no pain that occurred suddenly and hasn’t gotten better in over 5 months. I feels like there’s a block between me telling my quads to contract fully and hard and them doing it while I’m exercising. Day to day stuff before I exercise I don’t notice much weakness. My primary doctor can’t figure out why and I’ve seen 2 neurologist and they can’t seem to figure out why. I had a lower back MRI and I have moderate to severe foraminal stenosis and was wondering if that would be the cause of my weakness when exercising?

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cianci | @cianci | Feb 13 1:00am

To divedoc94, i had very similar symptoms to you, could sit, stand, lie down with no pain; only problem was walking, hiking, legs would totally weaken, almost give out.
My MRI showed severe stenosis in two areas, L3,4and5; actually impinging spinal cord plus other issues. I finally saw a spine surgeon and eventually got laminectomies and fusions.
Hopefully, your spine is not that bad and can be handled with PT.
You could also see a spine surgeon for an opinion.

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divedoc94 | @divedoc94 | Feb 16 10:27am
In reply to @cianci "To divedoc94, i had very similar symptoms to you, could sit, stand, lie down with no..." + (show)
Profile picture for cianci @cianci

To divedoc94, i had very similar symptoms to you, could sit, stand, lie down with no pain; only problem was walking, hiking, legs would totally weaken, almost give out.
My MRI showed severe stenosis in two areas, L3,4and5; actually impinging spinal cord plus other issues. I finally saw a spine surgeon and eventually got laminectomies and fusions.
Hopefully, your spine is not that bad and can be handled with PT.
You could also see a spine surgeon for an opinion.

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MRI says it’s just foraminal stenosis not spinal however I do have bilateral pars defects and anterolisthesis.

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sjs1951 | @sjs1951 | Feb 17 2:14pm
In reply to @wareagle "How did you know what doctor to make appointment with? That is my biggest problem is..." + (show)
Profile picture for wareagle @wareagle

How did you know what doctor to make appointment with? That is my biggest problem is finding a surgeon who has seen my problem with no pain, just weakness. I leave near Atlanta, but would be willing to go to Mayo.

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Good afternoon
It was just what I experienced. Would almost lose my ability to walk but no back pain.
8 months ago had a triple laminectomy know have pain but can walk much better but it's know 8 months if I limit myself to just walking occasionally have pain but removes it self after short rest
Best of luck

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billygote56 | @billygote56 | Nov 8 10:09pm

Yes! I can't dorsiflex. Can't tip toe or pivot. Can barely stand for longer than a few seconds due to weakness, which stems from stenosis and a herniated disc

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cori | @ccchang | Nov 9 6:01pm
In reply to @cianci "I had severe lumbar stenosis, no issue lying, sitting, even standing, but when i walked i..." + (show)
Profile picture for cianci @cianci

I had severe lumbar stenosis, no issue lying, sitting, even standing, but when i walked i had aches in buttocks and down both legs. At times my legs felt like they would give out during or right after walking. This went on for a year.
MRI showed impingement on nerve roots.
After much thought, i had surgery L2 to S1 and to pelvis, fusion et al.
Its been 5 months since surgery, went very well so far, cleared for all activities at the 8 week mark. Hopefully will continue to improve, but could live like this.

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@cianci hi, would you mind sharing who your surgeon was (and which hospital)? i had an XLIF surgery 6 weeks ago but still have numbness in my right side; am hoping it's just a matter of time for my nerves to repair, but this is all good info.

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scared002 | @scared002 | Nov 13 12:32pm

I too have stenosis with very little pain. I didn’t really realize that my legs were getting weaker… but on Memorial Day weekend I was at my sisters house… walked in with no hint of a problem. But when I was going to leave I basically couldn’t walk! She helped me to my car but since then I have to use a walker! Six weeks later (that’s how long I waited) I had an MRI of my lumbar which showed a fair bit of nerve compression at T 12 and L1. So I had a minimally invasive procedure done and also cleaned out some stenosis. But it didn’t help me to walk! So now I’m scheduled to have an EMG done to test nerves and muscles. I’m 83 but I had been doing my yard and housework so I really want to walk again!! scared002

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