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Any Success Stories of Lumbar Stenosis Surgery?

Posted by closer0043 @closer0043, May 12 11:02am

My MRI report says I have severe spinal stenosis at the L4-L5 and severe left foraminal narrowing at the L5-S1. The first spine doctor at University of Chicago sent me to PT for 6 weeks which didn’t do much.
I actually don’t have that much pain, but my toes have gone numb, and my legs have been getting weaker for the past year.

I also have bulging discs in my neck from my C4-C7 most prominent at the C5-C6. My body has been a mess since New Year’s Eve when I was lifting heavy weights and felt a burning in my lower neck/upper back area. My body went weak like I had low blood sugar or something, but it was different. It happened again 4 days later at the gym.

I was lucky to get in with a neurologist a few weeks later who dismissed my ALS concerns even though I have many symptoms. He agreed to give me an NCV/EMG a week later, but only because I had neuropathy in my toes. The conclusion was mild sensory axonal polyneuropathy. Since my weight lifting incident, I have been dealing wit the following symptoms rated 1-5 in January and current
Fatigue Jan 5 now 3
Night Sweats Jan 5 now 1
Finger numbness. Jan 4 now 3
Feet Numbness. Jan 4 now 4
Weakness Jan 4 now 4
Trouble breathing deep. Jan 3 now 2
Muscle twitching. Jan 4 now 2
Itching Jan 4 now 1
Ear Ringing. Jan 3 now 3
Dizziness Jan 3 now 0
Digestion and nausea Jan 4 now 0
Hand Edema. Jan 0 now 3
Nerve numbness. Jan 4 now 2
Erectile Dysfunction. Jan 4 now 1
Cramping. Jan 3 now 2
Head Pressure. Jan 3 now 0
Joint Pain. Jan 1 now 3
Myclonus Jan 4 now 1

So some things have improved, and most of them are the sensory issues. I’m pretty sure I shocked my system pretty bad that day, but a lot of these symptoms were around way before that incident. My legs have been gett Weaker at the gym for a year, but I just figured it was from my horrible sciatica and my severely arthritic knee which was jus replaced last November.

I also should mention that I am a 55 year old man who plays between 75-100 games of baseball every year until now. I had to call all 4 teams I usually play with and let them know that I’m finally retiring from the game. It really stinks since i just retired a year ago.

I am trying to get a second opinion from a neurosurgeon at Rush in Chicago. I have a few questions that maybe this knowledgeable group can answer.

Can a bulging disc or stenosis cause neuropathy, numbness, weakness, or fingertip edema?

I have recent MRIs of my entire back and head. Can nerve damage or compressed nerves be identified on an MRI?

Has anyone here ever had spine surgery that improved numbness / weakness symptoms? I usually only read the opposite on this site. I realize back surgery has been known to cause nerve problems.

Has anyone ever had a nerve conduction test that actually improved due to surgery or the nerve injury was acute and healed over time?

I love this message board. The information is great!

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

sweaver61 | @sweaver61 | Jun 23 1:41pm
In reply to @jondlek "I have severe stenosis at L4-5 and am scheduled for laminectomy with fusion next week. I’ve..." + (show)
@jondlek

I have severe stenosis at L4-5 and am scheduled for laminectomy with fusion next week. I’ve had neuropathy for a few years but they are not for sure it is from my back. But now along with horrible pain my right leg and butt cheek go numb. So I am praying the surgery will help.

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I had fusion and laminectomy in Nov 2019. Unfortunately it is considered a failed surgery. I have difused disc from L2-S1 with severe stenosis at L5-S1.
My last epidural was R/L SI . Believe me it is a good one. I had severe pain in legs and lower lumbar and 3 weeks out I am still getting leg relief. I have SI disfuction and this has been my best results. Good luck

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closer0043 | @closer0043 | Jun 23 2:15pm

I’m just going to call you Dr. Mary from now on. Thanks for the information. I will give another update after I see my new neurosurgeon on July 23rd. It’s funny you mentioned the thoracic portion of my mri. It doesn’t show much damage, but I swear it is causing more issues than it appears. When I try to twist to the right, my whole right rib cage is in pain because it feels like something is stuck and won’t allow me to turn that way. I’m sure it has something to do with throwing a baseball literally 10,000 times a year. Also, when I tilt my head back and twist, the way I twist makes that arm go numb.

The reason I think the lower back has been compressing my nerves for at least the past 2 years is my legs have both been losing strength, and now have visibly atrophied on the outside of both thighs. The left is worse, but I always assumed that was because I needed a knee replacement on that side which I just had done 7 months ago. I now think my left leg is starting to get stronger than my right. That also makes sense because my right side had sciatic pain for 6 months last summer which was always played through with ibuprofen.

I will definitely try to avoid surgery if I keep improving, but I am a mess. I also am pretty sure I have a torn right rotator cuff. I don’t think I’ve mentioned that I have had 8 surgeries in the past 13 years to stay on the field. The surgeries are getting old though. If I ever do return to the diamond, it will be for maybe 20 games a year. I played 105 games in 2021 at 53 years old. I didn’t get injured until game 104 when I injured my achillies which didn’t need surgery. I have 2 resurfaced hips, 2 rotator cuff repairs, meniscus clean up, ankle bone spur, double hernia, and partial knee replacement.

If I do have a surgery, I will probably try to avoid a fusion unless the surgeon is in adamant. I think I might be a better candidate for a laminotomy or laminectomy which could releive some pressure on the nerves sending signals down my legs. We shall see.

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jondlek | @jondlek | Jun 24 1:11pm
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@jondlek Have you had EMGs/nerve conduction studies to help narrow down peripheral nerve roots/nerves affected most..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@jondlek
Have you had EMGs/nerve conduction studies to help narrow down peripheral nerve roots/nerves affected most by your stenosis? Have you ever had spinal injections to help manage pain and did they do them at L4-L5 and did they help? You should know 100% the goals of surgery and what the surgeon expects to help you with. Why are you having surgery? Will it help alleviate pain/numbness, etc.? Have you been told if you have neurogenic claudication? How many levels are you having the laminator/fusion?

Jump to this post

Have done epidurals but no longer effective, the nerves are “crushed” in the canal, have had PT with more pain. Was told I will notice a remarkable improvement with my first step after and I trust my neurosurgeon who has done 100’s of this surgery before, including even on my mom. One level at L4-5.

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1 reply
closer0043 | @closer0043 | Jun 24 2:25pm
In reply to @jondlek "Have done epidurals but no longer effective, the nerves are “crushed” in the canal, have had..." + (show)
@jondlek

Have done epidurals but no longer effective, the nerves are “crushed” in the canal, have had PT with more pain. Was told I will notice a remarkable improvement with my first step after and I trust my neurosurgeon who has done 100’s of this surgery before, including even on my mom. One level at L4-5.

Jump to this post

Good luck on your upcoming surgery. Can I ask where you are having it done? Also, how old are you? Please keep us updated after the procedure. I’m sure you will improve. That’s how. I try to think every day.

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sjs1951 | @sjs1951 | Jun 25 9:11am

I've had a laminectomy on L2 L3 L4 and had two vertiflex L4 and 5 removed 5 days in the hospital open cut it's been 5 weeks starting to move around quite well some pains in my ankle and my thighs that I never had before I'm 73 years old recovery is probably slow for me thank you Steve

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