What helps spinal stenosis besides surgery?

@grandmaraines Laser spine treatments would not be able to remove spinal cord compression in the central canal. Major medical centers do standard surgical procedures for this. There can also be stenosis in the spaces where the nerve roots exit the spine. There are procedures that go through the front of the neck or the back (which I am told hurts more). It is the frontal approach that can affect the vocal chords. If you can come to Mayo for an opinion, I recommend it, not just because I am a Mayo spine surgery patient, but because they are good and have experience with these procedures for people with singing careers. Mayo also has procedures to place an implant that allows the vocal chords to meet again if one was paralyzed by the ACDF procedure. You should get more opinions and ask how your symptoms and quality of life can change if you never have surgery. Some people can be paralyzed and live in wheelchairs. I had great results with my ACDF at Mayo and did not have any voice issues. I understand your hesitation, I would feel that way too. I am an artist, and my spine problem was taking my talent ability away from me. This surgery restored my ability to do my artwork. There is a lot to think about and we are here to listen. You need a lot of information about what is possible to make this decision. Here is my story. https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2019/01/09/using-the-art-of-medicine-to-overcome-fear-of-surgery/

Thank you for your thoughts and insights. I live in Maine and traveling that far, especially with Covid issues forcing 14 day quarantine etc is not really practical. I have much to think about and will certainly do my research and seek several opinions, including from my nephew who is a neurosurgeon. Surgery of any kind terrifies me.

@grandmaraines You're welcome. Perhaps a counselor could help you sort through the fear. I know how it is the deal with fear knowing that surgery is inevitable, but facing the fear of the unknown can be done. You can start by writing down why surgery scares you and what events in your past have brought you to these feelings of fear. That would be the beginning of understanding it. I also found music very helpful, and I was doing deep breathing and listening to music to say calm, so I had a routine I could fall back on in my mind any time I needed it. I was lowering my blood pressure significantly doing this because I took measurements before after my listening/breathing sessions. There are also a lot of good TED talks about facing fears. I watched a lot of those. Your nephew can probably help you find a good surgeon, and you will want one who only does spine surgeries. Patients have talked about Mass General in Boston as a good place and they are ranked as the #6 best hospital in the nation by US News and World Report.

@grandmaraines I know surgery is scary. I don't know what kind of surgery you are having, but it sounds like a spine surgery. As you probably know I went through 9 hour fusion surgery for degeneration that had caused a scoliosis and also had stenosis in my L-4 & 5.
I went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. which I know is too far away for you. It was 3 1/2 hour drive for us. Forgot to tell you the surgeon had to go from T-10 to my pelvis.. Being you have a nephew being neurosurgeon hopefully can help you.. I saw a Professor of an orthopedic Spine surgeon that had 4 caulifications (SP) I use to be such a good speller but my computer underlined the last word. Well any well I think you would be safe to travel to Mass General in Boston. I'm sure they would have the same Covid policies as Mayo and the Hilton we stayed in was santized. We had no problem even eating in the restaurant. They all wore masks and every thing was clean and they had menus that they wiped off. I wasn't scared of the surgery, because I was in so much pain, but I feel bad that you are scared. Are you on any anti-anxiety medicines? Jennifer Hunter had good suggestions too. Take care and I will send my thoughts and prayers to take away your fears.

Thank you for your positive encouragement. My fear is thought that I could have my singing voice effected, not the surgery itself. A big part of my life is centered around singing- I'd rather lose my sight I think then to lose that. I know there will come a day when I can not hit the high notes or hold them as long or worse, my voice starts to quiver. I have many years before that should happen. Losing it now is unthinkble.

@wisco50 I didn't know you had a spinal cord stimulator trial. I'm so happy for you that it worked. I was offered it my a Neurologist, but my surgeon told me if I have surgery it could cause infection. Like I said before, even though it was a 9 hour surgery and a tough one, I'm glad I had it done. Blessings to you an happy too.

The spinal cord stimulator is for my “moderate to severe” stenosis in my lowest spinal level, below my original lumbar fusion. As with my neck, a second back surgery was offered. Another fusion to my already multiple levels of lumbar fusion. I refused. I originally thought it could just be a “simple” decompression, but they felt it was too unstable to give me long lasting relief, so hence the reason for another fusion. I just ultimately refused. I had been on the schedule but it just felt scary and wrong in so many ways. I’m glad I went with the SCS!

@sakota My heart goes out to you. You have to much to deal with that my recovery from my 9 hour fusion and recovery it nothing to what you are going through. I am 69 and had the surgery. I don't blame you not having surgeries. Yes the epidural injection get very tiresome and my pain doctor didn't even talk about an ablation or another injection that the pain doctor at Mayo mentioned. He did the one injection, but had the ablation at Mayo. It only worked a short time. My primary care told me I needed the surgery and so did my husband. I was in a lot of pain. Just have to be patient now to recover. I have soft bones so wear a brace and can't bend, twist or lift to heavy of things. I may have told you this all ready. I don't have any pain nuromd, so I can't help you on that, but send God's love and relief for your pain. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I had neck muscle spasms so acutely that I wanted to scream. I had numbness in one thigh. I had a very bad pinching pain in my shoulder and one arm. I had to quit teaching a class in the middle of the semester because I could not lift my right arm to write. I could not drive and had to get a ride to work because my neck would not turn. The neurologist gave me muscle relaxants and said good luck. I was at a loss. I was walking to a store and saw a sign at a beauty salon for massage. I turned in and enquired. I got incredibly lucky to find a CMT therapist that was gentle and educated. She pretty much had me lie on my back while she worked and stretched the neck muscles with her fingers. She never hurt me. In three weeks, after three 30-minute sessions I could drive again. In six weeks I was pain free. I talked to the neurologist. He refused to prescribe massage therapy, and told me it had probably made things worse. I never saw him again. I visited the CMT if I ever had any tightness. Totally cured it. Try it. But find the right person.

Therapeutic massage can really be very helpful for muscle spasms. I know if I could afford one weekly or even twice a month it would really help. But I haven’t found the right person after mine quit and my insurance will not pay for that many.