Have severe stenosis in L4-L5 and have had one major flare-up that required ER visit and prednisone pak. Diagnosed since with spinal stenosis due to arthritis, slight slipping of vertebrae’s, ligaments thickening in the anterior area. I am now managing okay with limitations, PT, Tylenol and bio freeze. I know my options of spine injections, and the minimally invasive surgery and then the fusion. Just wondering at what point one begins the injections & surgical journey. I am 71 and do get the sciatica butt and leg nerve pain upon rising this is managed with decompression exercises from PT and helps. I’m walking 1 mile with the nerve pain starting and I rode my ebike 14 miles-yes I was pedaling the entire time:-) my question is when do I start the injections? Now while I’m beginning to manage my new lifestyle and the pain or when it becomes difficult to manage? I know according to insurance I need to have injections before surgeries. Wait as long as I can or start the journey? I always have tenderness and I seem to be managing with exercise, Tylenol and bio freeze when needed.