1. < Spine Health
Profile picture for heycal

Any exercises actually help with spinal stenosis symptoms?

Posted by heycal @heycal, Mar 14 7:14pm

As I've detailed in a separate thread, I've got severe stenosis at L4/L5 that causes symptoms for the last six months in my left buttock, and sometimes down my left leg a bit, but nowhere else. Pain comes and goes without apparent rhyme or reason.

Epidural injection didn't do much. Surgey is recommended, which I hope to put off until next winter. PT was also mentioned, with docs saying it wouldn't fix anything but MIGHT help a little bit if I'm lucky. For various reasons, I've yet to see a PT person, and also never had much luck with it for other injuries.

In the meantime, are there any specific exercises that other sufferers of lumbar stenosis found helpful in lessening the pain, both in a long term sense and in the moment when the pain is the worst?

If so, I'd like to know what those exercises are. The internet seems divided on which ones to do and which to avoid. Thanks.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

Profile picture for sallylang
sallylang | @sallylang | Apr 9 8:41pm
In reply to @joepyzyk "I'm 73 years olds with spinal stenosis. Have had 5 injections. The first 3 helped. Can't..." + (show)
Profile picture for joepyzyk @joepyzyk

I'm 73 years olds with spinal stenosis. Have had 5 injections. The first 3 helped. Can't walk, sleeping is difficult, lots of pain.
First pain doctor then recommended Minuteman. Basically a bolt that goes between your vertabrae to take the pressure off
of the nerve that is causing the pain. Which is my left thigh. Had some issues with that doctor's office calling me back and never actually seeing the doctor to speak one on one. I had to talk with his NP and she was new to the practice. UHC eventually authorized the procedure. But, I wasn't comfortable with the doctors office and nervous with the situation. I ended up calling the manufacturer for Minuteman. He gave me recommendations of a doctor that specializes in
Minute man. Went there today and he already did two procedures before I came. We talked and I'm totally on board to doing this. He was wonderful. This ""bolt" is like a lag bolt that adheres to your vertabrae and compresses the spine away from the nerve, relieving the pain. Doctor said its only about 2 1/2 years since he's been doing it. 80% or more success rate. It will go between my L4 and L5 vertabrae. They can't do it between L5 and S1. But he says they are working on a device for this. Now I wait to get my UHC Medicare advantage to authorize the procedure. If they don't, I'll just pay for it. If I get any type of relief, I will be happy.
This is my 3rd discussion on this platform with Minute Man and no one answers with experience on it. I'll give you an update a couple weeks after and let you all know. Thanks all. Joe

Jump to this post

@joepyzyk What part of the USA is your physician?

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.