@2muchpain2bear I am a 77 y.o. retired RN. Back pain and injury is an occupational hazard. The older I got, the worse the low back pain became. About 15 yrs ago I started having numbness and tingling in my feet while taking my almost daily walk. It progressed over time to where just being on my feet for longer than 10 minutes brought the pins and needles 2/3 of the way up my calves. I saw a neurosurgeon twice but had been told by a friend with experience that I shouldn’t have surgery unless I couldn’t walk. I started using a hiking stick for balance but when I developed foot drop and urinary incontinence I agreed it was time. On April 15, 2025, I had bilateral L4-L5 interbody fusion, L2-L3 and L3-L4 laminectomy with posterolateral fusion. A year later I have graduated from a walker to a cane but am a high risk for falls due to poor balance. I wear a brace for the foot drop and the incontinence has lessened. I have less pain. But I feel like I’ve aged 5 years at least and last September fell and fractured my hip. I’m finishing a year of PT this month. The reason I replied to you is because you reported that surgery didn’t help your balance, either. And you’ve pursued other treatments. Do you think the gabapentin does any good? I have been taking Alpha Lipoic Acid 100 mg. 2xd as recommended by a neurologist.