Has anyone suffered from lumbar spinal stenosis? Did you have surgery?

Three bulging discs at L1-L2, L2-L3, and L3-L3 (I feel like I am writing an Excel formula). Going PT ere anything invasive.

Progress is slow, but we are making headway.

You have my sympathies. My cervical section is pretty much ALL trashed, and I had a PT show me in the MRI imagery the bulges in L1-L2, L2-L3, and L3-L4.

I am getting PT and it is helping, but progress is slow.

The cervical issues manifest in my left arm, hand, and ESPECIALLY forefinger - the numbness of which was the first of my indications in 2009 or something.

I too have issues sitting or standing.

Once I START walking I am doing mush better there. But I still hover between an 8.5 and 11.0 on the 1 to 10 pain scale.

And I too am in our state medical marijuana program.

If you don't mind my asking, if you smoke flower, about much do you consume? I generally get half an oz of hybrid, and half of indica, and I get about 2 weeks between dispensary visits.

I am 'pushing 70', and male. Married 26 years. No kids, but the Mrs. and I give home to some two dozen cats. Some inside, some free roaming outside, and some in a covered enclosure outside.

Along with my severe sciatica I have awful GERD. .
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ANYTHING that goes down results in a near immediate ear splitting belch.
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I've had esophageal work done, and it is a two month wait fo see him.
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These two issues have about caused a near complete shutdown of food intake.
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I think there was something else involved the past few days, but I have just dropped another 5 lbs in 2-3 days to 135.
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When I shower, I 'Wonder where my body went?'
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Cardio is fine.
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Pulmonary is exceptionally unremarkable.

Anyone else losing lots of weigh and just not hungry?

Hello. I have severe L4-L5 spinal stenosis along with facet arthropathy. Surgery has been recommended. Concurrently I have developed a peripheral neuropathy 24/7 in my buttocks and upper posterior thighs along with intermittent back pain. I have minimal leg pain. The neurosurgeon says this is not a typical symptom from what the MRI shows. Has anyone else experienced these symptoms related to L4-5 stenosis? Thank you.

Hello @westcom. I am sorry to hear of your spinal stenosis and neuropathy.

I wanted to help you more easily connect with other members who have had similar experiences so you will notice I have moved your post into an existing discussion on spinal stenosis. Members such as @eileenpetko @kaptainkat @windyshores and @jenniferhunter may be able to share more.

What symptom did your neurosurgeon say was not a typical symptom?

I don't know that anything in particular was atypical, just the damage is rather extensive. There was a 'comment' about SOMETHING at every junction in the 'report' on the MRI.

In the past few months, I have also learned that my sore hips are NOT an ilial but the result of three bulges at the top of my lumbar.

Thanks to PT, the pain lever has dropped from 12.5 (on a scale of 10) to about 5. And when I started I could barely walk 20 ft, and now can do 200.

@westcom I saw your other post and responded there. Here is the link.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/739960/

Greetings;

New to the lumbar list. I've known of my cervical crud for many years, but only recently discovered that my hip pain was NOT ilial, but lumbar. L1-2, L2-3, L3-4 have herniations.

PT IS DOING ME WONDERS!!!!!

I could not walk 20ft, and now can cover 200 (still with my roll-a-tor).

Pain has gone from a 12.5 (on a scale of 10) to 5.

My medicare cut me off, but my therapist helped me draft a petition and I have been granted an additional 17 visits. And I was going twice a week.

The gluteal and posterior thigh nerve pain is not typical and I have no leg pain which is typical. I have an upcoming EMG which hopefully she’d light on the origin of nerve pain. Jennifer’s replies were very helpful. Thank you.

This is my first time on Mayo Clinic Connect. I have lumbar stenosis and a far lateral herniated disk both at L5/S1. I want to wait for 6 months before surgery for the herniated disc. I am hoping someone has used a TENS unit of some kind and has been helpful. If so which one?
I'm finding the exercises for stenosis hurts the herniated disk. I've learned more from Mayo online than in PT. I'm not sure what exercises to do that will be beneficial for both.
Thank you!