Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Posted by LynetteGable @lynettegable, Jul 14, 2011

Looking for people with lumbar spinal stenosis with herniated discs

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@ed9349

Hi Lynette: My name is Hamdy. I am 73 years old and have been retired for less than two years. I had an open-spine surgery 24 days ago, on the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae. The surgery was to remove a broken lamina that was pressing on two nerves going to the legs, the surgery is called laminectomy. This was the result of working at the computer for over ten hours non-stop daily for about 15 years. Computer programmers are also candidates for spinal problems because of the endless hours in front of the computer until they find the bug in their program. Would you like to know the pre and post-op and how the surgery went?

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I hope you get some relief and that others will post their information to share. My MRI showed stenosis and 3 herniated discs L3, L4 and L5. I thought first injection might help but not so. Did you have any epidural injections. Look forward to hearing from you. Take care and God Bless

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@ed9349

Hi Lynette: My name is Hamdy. I am 73 years old and have been retired for less than two years. I had an open-spine surgery 24 days ago, on the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae. The surgery was to remove a broken lamina that was pressing on two nerves going to the legs, the surgery is called laminectomy. This was the result of working at the computer for over ten hours non-stop daily for about 15 years. Computer programmers are also candidates for spinal problems because of the endless hours in front of the computer until they find the bug in their program. Would you like to know the pre and post-op and how the surgery went?

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Thanks for your comment. I had 4 eppidural injections in the last year with short term relief. That is why I'm going this route. My doctors have made sure I understand what my limitations will be with a spinal fusion. It's a hard decision to make, but I'm tired of living on pain pills. Keep me updated,and take care.

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@ed9349

Hi Lynette: My name is Hamdy. I am 73 years old and have been retired for less than two years. I had an open-spine surgery 24 days ago, on the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae. The surgery was to remove a broken lamina that was pressing on two nerves going to the legs, the surgery is called laminectomy. This was the result of working at the computer for over ten hours non-stop daily for about 15 years. Computer programmers are also candidates for spinal problems because of the endless hours in front of the computer until they find the bug in their program. Would you like to know the pre and post-op and how the surgery went?

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I will let you know. If the shots don't help I will go to Mayo. My doctor there is a hip/knee specialist but with my fused leg and I also have a fractured hip that they don't want to fix as it would entail putting a plate in he knows my history and will direct me to a doctor there. I am just hoping these will help as like you, I am tired of the pain pills and limitations. It was bad enough with my leg and hip but now my back, think I'm falling apart! I have to go back to Mayo for my 6 month check with my hip/knee doc so may have to address it then. I hope things work out for you and please stay in touch

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@barbarosa54

I had a long segment lumbar fusion surgery done at a place other than Mayo in 2008. It was a complete failure leaving me in crushing pain only relieved by 24/7 administration of opiate based meds. I am now waiting to see if Mayo can do a revision surgery that was a bit less invasive than my initial surgery. Am also looking at getting my entire lumbar spine fused to the pelvis. I dont want to go with any radical anterior approach because I dont think I can survive it. I am hoping that Mayo can go with a minimal approach from the front and do most of the work from the backside. I dont guess I will know until I talk to the doctors on the 9th of August, my initial appt date.
I will refuse an anterior/posterior radical approach.....dont think I can survive it and dont want to try. I hope that the rep of the Mayo is all that it has been built up to be

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My problemes started in 06 after hip replacement and then being revised in 07. Caused my L2 to L5 to buldge and herniate. Haave taken the 3 epidural shots each year for 5 years. they help for about a month but the pain comes back, gives weight gain and brittle bones. Have seen several dr. but no surgery.

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@barbarosa54

I had a long segment lumbar fusion surgery done at a place other than Mayo in 2008. It was a complete failure leaving me in crushing pain only relieved by 24/7 administration of opiate based meds. I am now waiting to see if Mayo can do a revision surgery that was a bit less invasive than my initial surgery. Am also looking at getting my entire lumbar spine fused to the pelvis. I dont want to go with any radical anterior approach because I dont think I can survive it. I am hoping that Mayo can go with a minimal approach from the front and do most of the work from the backside. I dont guess I will know until I talk to the doctors on the 9th of August, my initial appt date.
I will refuse an anterior/posterior radical approach.....dont think I can survive it and dont want to try. I hope that the rep of the Mayo is all that it has been built up to be

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Thank you so much for your reply. what do your doctors say can be done?

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@barbarosa54

I had a long segment lumbar fusion surgery done at a place other than Mayo in 2008. It was a complete failure leaving me in crushing pain only relieved by 24/7 administration of opiate based meds. I am now waiting to see if Mayo can do a revision surgery that was a bit less invasive than my initial surgery. Am also looking at getting my entire lumbar spine fused to the pelvis. I dont want to go with any radical anterior approach because I dont think I can survive it. I am hoping that Mayo can go with a minimal approach from the front and do most of the work from the backside. I dont guess I will know until I talk to the doctors on the 9th of August, my initial appt date.
I will refuse an anterior/posterior radical approach.....dont think I can survive it and dont want to try. I hope that the rep of the Mayo is all that it has been built up to be

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no hope, must just live with it. am taking pain meds and lircia but does not help. I do make myself get up and exercise each day with water arobics and weights but steriods make my muscles weak so am unable to stand for mor than 5 min.; also weight gain. What dr. I need is someone that looks at the back and pelvis as a unit with the legs.

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@barbarosa54

I had a long segment lumbar fusion surgery done at a place other than Mayo in 2008. It was a complete failure leaving me in crushing pain only relieved by 24/7 administration of opiate based meds. I am now waiting to see if Mayo can do a revision surgery that was a bit less invasive than my initial surgery. Am also looking at getting my entire lumbar spine fused to the pelvis. I dont want to go with any radical anterior approach because I dont think I can survive it. I am hoping that Mayo can go with a minimal approach from the front and do most of the work from the backside. I dont guess I will know until I talk to the doctors on the 9th of August, my initial appt date.
I will refuse an anterior/posterior radical approach.....dont think I can survive it and dont want to try. I hope that the rep of the Mayo is all that it has been built up to be

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sad part was I was a nurse ( school nurse) and should have known how to handle this but know about kids but not this.

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@barbarosa54

I had a long segment lumbar fusion surgery done at a place other than Mayo in 2008. It was a complete failure leaving me in crushing pain only relieved by 24/7 administration of opiate based meds. I am now waiting to see if Mayo can do a revision surgery that was a bit less invasive than my initial surgery. Am also looking at getting my entire lumbar spine fused to the pelvis. I dont want to go with any radical anterior approach because I dont think I can survive it. I am hoping that Mayo can go with a minimal approach from the front and do most of the work from the backside. I dont guess I will know until I talk to the doctors on the 9th of August, my initial appt date.
I will refuse an anterior/posterior radical approach.....dont think I can survive it and dont want to try. I hope that the rep of the Mayo is all that it has been built up to be

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Where do you doctor at? Have you tried Mayo? I had a knee replacement that got infected and the original doctor would not address the issue and I about died. If it wasn't for Mayo I wouldn't have a leg and may have died. I know have a fused leg which does add to my back issues.

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Hi Everybody -- I'm new today. I, too, suffered with spinal stenosis (and, it turned out a chipped vertebrae) and my HMO in NM could offer nothing. I sat in a wheelchair and in my bed for four years in severe pain. Finally, I found an out-of-state doctor who performed a "bandaid" surgery, MISS, and repaired it totally. "Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery" is available in 48 states, I believe. Google it. I hear your pain and wish I could help.

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@magikm

Hi Everybody -- I'm new today. I, too, suffered with spinal stenosis (and, it turned out a chipped vertebrae) and my HMO in NM could offer nothing. I sat in a wheelchair and in my bed for four years in severe pain. Finally, I found an out-of-state doctor who performed a "bandaid" surgery, MISS, and repaired it totally. "Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery" is available in 48 states, I believe. Google it. I hear your pain and wish I could help.

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Thanks for your information! I am waiting to see how the steriod shots work and then go from there

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