Having surgery for Lumbar Stenosis with neurogenic claudication.

@grayhairs
I had decompression and fusion surgery in 2024 on L3-L5. I am in my 50s and female. My surgery was invasive and painful because they had to do open surgery and cut muscle in my back. Yours may be less painful if a minimally invasive procedure is used. They may be just opening up space for your spinal cord and nerve roots by cutting away lamina/bone that is causing the compression.

Before my surgery, I had severe stenosis at L4-L5, degenerative disc disease and neurogenic claudication. My symptoms were pain, weakness and numbness of lower back, hips, buttocks, thighs and feet. I could not stand, walk, sit for too long before my lower body went numb. Many of my symptoms improved, especially the lower body numbness.

Good luck with your procedure. I hope it goes well and provides you with relief of your symptoms.

Hi @grayhairs
Did you had your surgery it will very soon?

Before, my pain was killing me. My walking was falling down, too.

After,my surgery ended pain. Walking was taking a long time as that helped me and moving my lower body - from the bottom of my back to my feet - added by learning my body to walk. My body from my surgery was the last 12 months. According to my doctor could take the next 3 yrs, but iWork my brain & body exersize 3 times a week.

Thx,
Greg D. @greg1956

Thanks for responding..... My surgery will take place on August 5th. What kind of surgery did you have? Glad you pain has ended. Keep working and I wish you the best in your recovery. Take care. Larry M.

I had terrible claudication before my lumbar surgery for stenosis many years ago. I wasn't able to stand or walk upright, nor could I lay flat in bed. Mine was painful, though, and felt like I had a vise grip around my spine in that area. I also had some numbness in my feet as well as nerve pain. The more I tried to straighten up, the worse the pain and spasms got. I had laminectomies from L3 to L5, foraminotomies, and discectomies.

My lower back after surgery was remarkable in that I was finally able to lay flat again. I could not believe it and it felt SOOOO good to straighten out!

I did end up with scar tissue even though I did everything to try to prevent it and a piece broke off and got stuck but pain management was able to flush it out during an epidural.

Over time, though, my body continued to develop more stenosis and it's pretty much everywhere in my spine. I did have some good period of time where I felt pretty good after surgery, though.

Thank you for responding and sharing your journey. I am praying for a good surgery also, unfortunately aging will do what it does. God Bless.

Dear @grayhairs

I’m 69 years-young. I had/have a bicycle accident in 2012 that changed my life from what was a professional job in my city to home with my family. And I became a TBI (brain-injury) member.

Ok, a couple years ago, I fell down in my garage and hit from the bottom of my rear-ends and after that my body changed again from the body of me. A few years again,thankfully, I got another doctor - and he helped right after my TBI that day. My wife knows,but I have no idea 12 years ago. He helped me again from the bottom of my back to the top of my rear-end.

He chose me of his photos and what we could fix. I said, YES! After,he fixed the bone with wired stuff for about 2 -3 inches was fixed cause my-ain ended. That was a t day in my hospital. After that took me ‘round u- to 9 months, trying my body-back. Today, it’s 1 years later. I spend 80% and I hope as times go, 100+ % back.

Thanks,
Greg D @greg1956

Had MIS-TLIF 12 days ago. (L5-S1). Stenosis, ruptured disk, claudication, spondylolisthesis…had very bad nerve pain in my left leg and could barely walk—and then only with trekking poles. Now I can walk normally— it is amazing what the docs can do now. It started 18 months ago with worsening left leg pain, and ultimately pain in my left low back, though think back pain due more to my gait. (Oh, and a two week trip to Europe with heavy walking — and a lotta pain meds —didn’t help my back !) I gave in and had surgery on my return home. I’m 66, average weight and lax on cardio, but do work 30 mins/week w/trainer ( or I did before surgery). The surgical experience was much easier than I thought—I’d never had general anesthesia before and was concerned for no reason. Everyone at hospital was kind and caring, I spent one night in hospital and was home the next. Obviously, it is still early days, so my back is stiff and sore, but I take gabapentin, Tylenol and Robaxin at night only. [PA said okay to drive now as long as not on opiate ( or daytime robaxin). I plan a short drive tomorrow.] PT starting coming to my home a week after surgery; I do limited exercise 1-2x day, and walk up and down the long hall outside my apt ( I’m in hi rise) a few times a day. Even though I walk fine without walker ( kind w/two wheels), the PT wants me using it when I walk longer distances. I’ve had no issues taking care of myself, though stayed with friends for three days post surgery. I did have excruciating nerve pain in my leg after the nerve blocks wore off - beginning day 2 post surgery, but my fusion was complicated by a deeply imbedded nerve they had to free, It was a worse and different nerve pain than pre-surgery, but the PA said that was a good thing— nerve reacting to freedom! Anyway, at that point I was taking Oxy which helped. The nerve pain has now greatly eased. It’s still early days, but I’m very pleased with surgery. Do not push yourself too hard post surgery-my back is sore now because I overdid it yesterday. No matter how careful I am not to BLT ( bent, lift twist), just making an easy dinner and clearing up requires move movement than one thinks. But walking is very important. And don’t be a martyr to pain- take the pain meds.! Hope this helps! Good luck

Thanks for sharing your journey, hopefully every day you will be better. I am not looking forward to the surgery, but it needs to be done. Take care and keep doing your PT. God Bless.

Thank you so much! Your note is encouraging me to prepare for L 3-4 and 4-5 fusion in October.
Last year had each knee replaced..that was big, and painful, but I worked hard and I did it!
Now it looks like the fusion will initially require more resting, and painful management. I love walking, so that’s a given.
I am a little frightened by it all as I’m 79 years old!

Wow.... Both knees that's unreal. Hang in there, get that fusion and keep walking. Being 79 years young you are an inspiration to all of us. God Bless.