Cervical & spinal stenosis

I also have both spinal and lumbar stenosis. My pain doctor has given me a steroid shot and it worked on what hap been my worst side. But I discovered that much of my pain on the other side is from a no longer functional right knee. So I am now days away from having a knee replacement.

In the meantime, after waiting a long time for an appointment, I finally had one with my neurosurgeon of choice but we agreed that we needed to see what was happening, pain wise, after my knee was replaced. So I have another appointment with him in November.

My neurosurgeon has written the book on minimally invasive spinal and lumbar surgery and has done many such surgeries. I cannot stress enough finding a really skilled surgeon who has done many operations in the same manner as yours. I have been wary of surgery although I am more afraid of the anesthesia than the actual surgery.

They have come a long way from the old days of back surgery. But anyway you can avoid it is good.

Decompression therapy has helped me. So far I've used it only for cervical vertabae because of pinched nerves. However, I'll use it for lumbar, too, when that pain becomes disabling. I have all your conditions, plus scoliosis. However, I have a very high tolerance for pain. I know that chiropractors are often disparaged on these websites because of their hands-on methods. But, I've been lucky to have found really good ones. The Pro-Adjuster machine, in the right hands, has been wonderfully helpful. Also, the chiropractor's cervical traction equipment where I lay on a table and a machine very gently and slowly slightly "stretches" my neck to open spaces between vertebrae just enough to keep the nerves free-flowing. Like you, I would keep trying nonsurgical therapies until there is no option other than surgery. Good luck.

yes, probably a lot of us. When I realized I finally needed surgery was when a good myofascial therapist put my bowling ball head straight on top of my neck bones. It was AMAZING. But after two day it would fall out of position and pull and squeeze and cause so much pain to return. He did that for me twice and I realized my neck was not strong even to hold my head in place. No amount of exercise would hold my head up and my posture in place. my surgeon (my hero) was VERY conservative. Because I didn't present like a traditional person in need of cervical spine surgery he was reluctant. But I was at the end of my rope. He did the surgery. My bones were too soft and would not hold the hardware and I had to immediately have a second surgery. It was massive and immobilizing. It took me two years to heal. I started going to a MFR therapist and continue to go twice a month. My pinched nerve pains are all gone. I am having difficultly adjusting my round shoulders to the straight rod. That is why its taking so long to heal. I am 68 years old. My round shoulders were very sexy as a young lady but damaging as an old lady. but I no longer look like the other old ladies walking through the grocery store and everyone tells me so! Same surgeon did my lumbar surgery. He will do the next one, God Willing. I hope that adds to your consideration. Surgery was a must. There was no way around it. The outcome is not perfect but my body is comprised so I got the best of what could be expected. Have an honest conversation with your surgeon.

@missthunderbirdspeed Welcome to Connect. It may be worth your while to get some current imaging such as an MRI so you know the status on your spine condition. Surgery should be a last resort, but sometimes it's a very good thing as it was for me and I got my life back. I didn't just have pain, I was loosing muscle and developing weakness. I couldn't hold my arms up anymore, and that was bad because I am an artist. I had surgery for a compressed spinal cord before major damage happened, so my results were pretty good. I have no regrets, and since surgery, I have been pain free. Choices come from correct information, so I suggest find the best neurosurgeon you can and look up everything about them. You are not obligated to go through surgery because you consulted a surgeon, but you will learn about your condition and how it may affect you over time and what other options you may have. Some surgeons are gifted and others not, so do your homework. You won't necessarily have the same experience as your family member, and surgical skills and techniques have advanced a lot in recent years. Generally speaking, cervical spine surgery is a lot easier to recover from, and lumbar surgery is more difficult because you are bearing most of your body weight there.