Hi @lotsofpain, you'll notice that I moved your message to this existing discussion about spinal stenosis. I did this so you can connect with @jenniferhunter @collierga @bernese53 and others who have experience dealing with this issue.

This is another good discussion to review:
- What helps spinal stenosis besides surgery? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-came-in-here-because-i-suffer-from-spinal-stenosis/

What treatment or therapy did your doctor suggest? Was it suggested that treating the spinal stenosis would mean you wouldn't have to have hip surgery?

@lotsofpain I presume you are talking about stenosis in the central spinal canal. Commonly when discs rupture, the jelly like material inside invades a space it doesn't belong, and that causes inflammation. It creates uneven pressure on the end plates of the vertebral body, and that causes bone remodeling and growth of bone spurs. For me, that created a disc osteophyte complex of disc material and bone spurs that was pressing into my spinal cord. Sometimes stenosis happens in the spaces between the vertebrae where the nerve roots exit the spinal cord. It then compromises that nerve specifically. Sometimes surgeons can do a foraminotomy to address issues at the nerve roots. This link explains a foraminotomy.
https://www.spineuniverse.com/treatments/surgery/foraminotomy-taking-pressure-spinal-nerves

If the problem is in the central spinal canal, surgery to get there needs to go through a disc space after a bad disc is removed, or discectomy. That is what I had, a removal of the C5/C6 disc, a clean out of the bone spurs and a fusion with a bone graft to replace the disc. These problems tend to keep getting worse and the spinal cord is easily damaged which can cause permanent disability, so it is important to get a surgical intervention before that happens. Spinal stenosis is measured on the x-rays and classified according to how much the fluid space within the spinal canal has narrowed. On an MRI, spinal cord damage can show up as a whitish area within the spinal cord where the individual nerve fibers have degenerated (myelopathy). Sometimes this damage can be mild and not show changes on the MRI in the initial stages.

@lotsofpain Hello I hope you understand that spinal stenosis is 1of a type of spinal column issue but for every problem there is a fix to a certain degree. I too suffer from spinal stenosis & herniated discs & bulging discs as well as my spinal canal is being crushed onto by my herniated discs in my Cervical spine & part of my thoracic spine, however I have severe spinal stenosis & a cracked sacrum. I also received an injection in my lower back last Tuesday. It helped me & it is still soar. But it takes about 1-2 weeks before you really feel the improvements of the injection/epidural. I wear a special back brace that was specially sized for my back as I'm a big woman. But it is definitely a huge help for when I'm cooking & washing dishes or anything to do that requires me to stand for longer periods of time. Also I would say for you to find a Neurologist or a Pain Mgmt Dr. So they can give you more appropriate hands on approach. There are alot of different types of procedures available for ppl who suffer from this. Some even find it helpful with Spinal Cord Stimulators/ SCS device's to numb the pain by sending electronic pulses to your spinal nerves & there are different types of Neurosurgery that is something that you would have to discuss with a pain mngmt Dr. Etc.
I know it sounds confusing but our bodies for 1 reason or another hurt & we try to do the best we can.
Have you tried any types of light excercizes for your spinal stenosis? Try simple stretching excercizes. I do yoga & simple stretching helps. I also use a roller it's like a noodle made of foam like they use in a pool for floating on. But I use it on my legs as well as my Lwr lumbar & my thoracic areas it is a simple way to gently stretch ur muscles out as your back is against the noodle with a yoga mat underneath ur back & it has made a difference in my pain level's from my many spinal column issue's.
I wish you much better days ahead & do the best we all can. Best wishes & stay strong .