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What helps spinal stenosis besides surgery?
Spine Health | Last Active: Sep 12 12:03am | Replies (167)Comment receiving replies
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.
Replies to "Thank you so much for taking the time for responding. What is causing the biggest dilemma..."
@hat Surgeons need to cover all the bases to tell you what can happen for legal reasons. That doesn't mean it will happen. They have statistics about success of procedures in various age groups. If you are a healthy 78 year old, likely your chances of a good outcome are better than someone your age who isn't healthy. For example, smokers don't recover as well because they have lower oxygen levels in their bodies, and that can cause a spinal fusion to fail. Many times, surgeons ask patients to stop smoking for a period of time to allow healing from surgery.
In my case, I saw my bone spurs double in size in 9 months on MRIs of my spine, and all of that was pressing into my spinal cord. I saw that as occurring quickly. Each MRI or image is just a snapshot of what is happening at that time, and doesn't predict how quickly something can change. Your doctor indicated that you have a window of time in which to make this decision. At some point, you have to trust the surgeon and take a leap of faith if you want the surgery, but that needs to be an educated decision. Always ask what you can do to contribute to the success of surgery. I saw how disabled my parents were (both in wheelchairs) and I knew that would be my future also if I didn't have spine surgery. I have no regrets. It was a good choice. I am a healthy person because of my choices and I know people who are the same age that are not healthy partly because of their choices, and that ages them faster. I expect that when I am in my 70's, I will still be active. I have a horse that I care for and ride, and the physical work keeps me young.
Aside from the spine issues, what is the state of your health now? Have you asked your doctors how your health and any other conditions could affect healing from major surgery?
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At 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.