What helps spinal stenosis besides surgery?

Thank you so much Jennifer for your input. As a care giver for my husband he currently has 2 compression fractures in his back. So I understand what you are saying. Years ago I refused Fosamax and took Calcium and vitaminD instead. My bone scans were within Osteopina areas so I thought that would continue. I will discuss the bone density injections my doctor has suggested and follow up with Dr Google, just so I feel more informed and do what I feel is best for me at this time. From what you have said I feel better about the paralysis aspect of my on going condition and will be cognizant of changes.
I think these discussion boards are wonderful and I am grateful for the input!

Why aren't there more better treatments for nerve and joint issues?
Its discouraging...

@ellie1937 Thank you for your kind words. The other option for bone health would be hormone replacement with compounded bioidentical estradiol balanced with progesterone. I have been taking that and will soon have a bone scan to see how I am doing. Hormone replacement does help keep calcium in the bones.

What made my mom's osteoporosis so bad was that she had a parathyroid condition that was pulling calcium out of the bones depleting them and that wasn't addressed in time. They watched it for awhile, and when her blood calcium scores were getting high, then they removed 1 or 2 of the parathyroid glands in the front of the neck. It was a very easy surgery. It was the next week, she fell and broke her pelvis. That might be a question to ask if your blood calcium levels are in normal range, and if not ask about the parathyroids. My mom just completed a year of Evenity injections to build bone, but I do not know what the results have been.

Your job as a caregiver is important and can be exhausting and that can take a toll on your health. I was caregiver to both my disabled parents at my dad's end stage of heart disease when he could not do anything for himself, and they refused to go to a nursing home which put the burden on me. Physically it was very hard to care for him, but I did that for my parents. I'm glad you're here and I'm sure your experience will help other members too.

@pablo81 Are you thinking about disc removal? A laminectomy does not remove the disc which is the round cushion between each vertebrae, so those remain to support the spine. It just removes some bone that is around the spinal cord from the back side of the spine which does remove the spineous process that sticks out to the back.

Here is an explanation of a laminectomy. If you click on the illustrations, they will get larger so you can see them better.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/laminectomy/about/pac-20394533
I think my cousin had one level affected, and he recovered very quickly from a lumbar laminectomy.

Millions of people suffer from nerve pain and spinal stenosis and not enough money for medical research for spine problems.

Jennifer thank you for all the information. I will look into the hormone replacement and the blood Calcium to see the range. We sometimes make decisions that perhaps aren't the best. I was offered the hormone replacement way back and at the time was concerned because I had lost both parents with Cancer and there seemed to be perhaps a chance of getting that through the hormone replacements. At this point and time as long as I'm able to function and not in constant pain it's good.
I have been married for 65 years and have been a caregiver my entire life for family one way or another. It can be exhausting but I try to get away for an afternoon or get sometime for myself to recharge. I am a pretty optimistic person and healthy all my life so this has kind of thrown me for a loop.
I certainly will give some feedback on my results and decisions that have helped me so that others may benefit.

@ellie1937
Ellie, I wanted to respond more to you about hormone replacement, and I did so in this discussion "Advice on using HRT please: What are the pros & cons?"

Here are my posts:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/761116/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/815101/

Jennifer...Thank you for the other posts, very informational. I mentioned briefly that I live in an area where there is a sortage of doctors . I mentioned HRT yesterday with my physician and he is against it...what he suggested is Prolia . I briefly did some research on Prolia and none of the information was reassuring except that it does replace some bone lost. My Dexa scan back in 2019 was still ostopina as per the T score. I will continue with my plans to look at more information. I go for an MRI of the lower back now as I had the upper done previously. If I considered going to see a physician for a second opinion I would have to go to San Francisco which is about 3-4 hours from where I live. Thank you again for your input.

Had spinal decompression surgery. Surgeon removed 2 old spacers. Now entire spine is missaligned with greater nerve pain

That’s horrible. Thats why I had my spinal cord stimulator installed. My first one didn’t work as I hoped, but the Prosper’s Biotronik Neurostimulator helped my Lumbar and my legs. My leg pain and lumbar pain kept me from walking. But after I got the Biotronik stim. I was excited. I thought I may have a chance to live my life again. I’m getting another Spinal cord Stimulator in December for my thoracic & cervical spine. 🙏🏻