Hi @annie1

I had spinal fusion and laminectomy on Feb 3 2026 for spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease. I also have scoliosis and a host of autoimmune health issues and was taking Targeted Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy at the time of my surgery..My issues started in 2015 and had only gotten worse over time. There was severe pain in my thigh, numbness in toes and I couldn’t straighten up, so walking became limited and my upper body pitched forward all the time.
Post surgery and almost immediately I could walk upright again and have no pain in my leg. While I do have residual numbness of the toes the nerve damage over time has caused this.
Within a couple of days of surgery I was walking, and while it was painful at the time, this was well managed by my care team.
Today I am able to do more than I was able over the last few years, things that were not possible before surgery and feel the outcome was worth the recovery. I was able to do stairs a week post surgery and while I wasn’t dancing the jig right away, my quality of life is so much better for it. I have no pain, I did not do physiotherapy, however I have done yoga on the road to recovery. I sometimes have tenderness in my back, but it doesn’t hold me back in the least.
I wish you the best and hope you find the right path for yourself!