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What helps spinal stenosis besides surgery?
I also suffer from bursitus in my hips so I go in for infections. The shots help both my hips and my back. Today, thought I would look for things on the internet and then discuss with my dr. I came across an article for a neuromd Its a device you wear on your back and helps with the pain. Its been FDA tested and approved. Has anyone checked this out. I don't know if insurance covers it or not ...... I am getting tired of the injections and those really are just a temporary solution. I'm 76 and don't think I want to go thru surgery and my dr said that doesn't really help. So if anyone has one of these things or know about them, would appreciate your input. Besides the back am also dealing with copd and lung cancer........Life is like a box of cherries......I just keep getting the sour ones......... Hope you all are doing ok......andhave God, family and friends as your everyday support...........
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Hello all:
I have not posted in a while and am not sure this is the right place to do so. I had surgery for spinal stenosis with fusion in L4-L5 region in June of this year. The surgery itself was a success and no back pain or sciatica afterwards. However a week or two later I started feeling a pain running down the leg where I had sciatica. It is different than the sciatica pain; almost feels like bone pain. My surgeon said it could be nerve regeneration after having been compressed for so long. I am in my third week of twice a week physical therapy. I don’t feel much difference yet but maybe it is too early.
My surgeon is going to follow me more closely but didn’t say how long it will take for the pain to subside.
Has anyone experienced this condition and what was the outcome? Thanks for any and all responses.
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1 ReactionMy Physical Therapist said that trying physical therapy first is the best thing. If nothing else, you are stronger, and the surgery goes better. Take just a little more time to do this. Also, investigate the allergic reactions people have from the rods--there are different types.
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2 ReactionsAt my appointment with my primary care doctor to discuss my head tremors, which only occurs while laying down, she suggested that I make an appointment with a neurologist. At that appointment the neurologist ordered a brain scan and an MRI to investigate the cause of the tremors, but also gave me an order for physical therapy. I made the series of appointments with the PT, but when the results of the MRI was sent to the neurologist, she too was surprised to see the condition of my cervical spine. From there I was sent to the first neurologist surgeon, who said to cancel the PT sessions based on the fact that I did not have pain and who knows what could happen if something was moved. From there, I had a second opinion from another neurologist surgeon, who ordered more tests and based on the additional tests is recommending extensive surgery. I still have ABSOLUTELY no symptoms except for the tremors laying down! The 2nd neurologist said, the same as the first, in 20 years never had a case like mine. No symptoms . My biggest dilemma is the fact that having the 2- day surgery is a huge risk, and not having the surgery is a huge risk since the spinal cord is narrowing! I'm definitely putting off PT for now, and will probably get a 3rd opinion. This is a really hard decision!! Thank you so much for reaching out! Any thoughts??
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1 ReactionI think a PT who would teach you isometrics, maybe pilates without weights would help. I don't have a medical degree, so not sure why the doctors are not for stretching. But, being able to get rid of the tremors sounds like a good deal. I like Dr Jo (I have severe degenerative lower back disease, but no symptoms, either) . I agree: huge decision. Make sure whoever you pick has done many of these procedures and check into rehab afterward?? Dr Jo's
exercises stabilize the back... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Etl3x9AnU
Due to your neck instability PT might do more harm than good now, but post operative you most definitely will need PT. You don’t say your age and I wonder if the potential post operative pain will be worth it. Im 70 and I have stainless steel plates in my lumbar spine and cannot have an MRI. I was offered the option to replace them with titanium but no thank you. I will let medical professionals figure out my body the old fashioned way.
If you are NOT having pain with all your issues, why take a chance with surgery which can cause chronic pain and cause more problems. Their should be a med for tremors. Why subject yourself to surgery when you are active and have NO pain?
My post surgical pain lasted about a year and it still creeps back once in a while. My pain at bone donor site on my hip lasted much longer though. Every body’s different and we all heal differently and it takes time due to all the surgical insult done by the surgery.
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2 Reactionsi had Vertiflex 10 days-ago. still in pain. spacer put in L4 and L5…
hope i’ll heal and pain will go away
Thank you so much for taking the time for responding. What is causing the biggest dilemma to me is the fact that my spinal cord is definitely narrowing and if it continues to narrow, I would be paralized or /and lose body functions. The surgeons have both said, that the narrowing of the chord will definitely happen, but they can't say when. (It could happen in 10 months or it could happen in ten years!) I am now 78 years old. If this happened when I was younger, I would definitely have surgery but at my age now, it's a hard decision to make. In the list from the notes of my last appointment explaining all the risks of my surgery, the surgeon also added "She understands there is a risk that the patient is no better or worse off after the surgery." I keep going back to that sentence and then my family keeps bringing up the fact that if I don't have the surgery I could be in a wheelchair in a year or two if this narrowing continues fast. The surgeon also mentioned that if I put off my decision too long, because of my age, they wouldn't recommend surgery for someone in their 80"s!! I go back and forth with making a decision.
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1 ReactionAt what hospital will the surgery be performed?
This is important too.
Have you asked the surgeons how many times they did this surgery? Have you looked at their credentials and reviews?
Ask them to refer you to a patient that has had this type of surgery to find out how they recovered. Have they done this surgery on a person close to your age?
Ask the surgeons what’s the chance of the surgery disabling you.
I would get another opinion from a very reputable and highly skilled surgeon.
Will you be able to walk after surgery?
Ask them to show you the rod and screws. And ask them if they are titanium which are much lighter than stainless steel. Asked them what your pain level will be after surgery and how sure they are that it will stop the progression of the discs collapsing even more.
Don’t be afraid to ask them every question that enters your mind.
It’s a very tough decision for you to make.
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