Is neuropathy a sign my stenosis is getting worse?

Posted by tx2az @tx2az, Jul 22, 2023

I was diagnosed with cervical and lumbar stenosis a couple of years ago but apparently had it for quite a while. I had been using "bandaids" (several nerve blocks, epidurals, Gabapentin, Lyrica, well I'm sure you all know) to try to put off surgery. I am under 50, so I think I'm in denial and I'm fearful I will get the answer that I don't necessarily want to hear, but .... here I am.

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Research laminectomy surgery. It can be performed with minimal surgery and as an outpatient to remove the cause of stenosis. Eventually, the stenosis can damage the adjacent nerves if not corrected. I waited too long and now have to deal with numbness in both feet. There are specialists that perform laminectomy surgery.

Tom

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Just curious, have you had any imaging done to establish a baseline? Do you have any pain?

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I presume from your initial post you’ve had radiographs performed plus back injections so you have a diagnosis. A good physician therapy regime and home exercise program will keep you away from the knife. And once you get a program do not ever cease doing it. You can stop the gradual deterioration if you remain active and do the work on yourself and stay away from back injections.

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I find docs are too quick to cut or do other things like transfusions without giving thought to a patient's medical
History. All the ablations too. They wanted to give my youngest daughter an ablation but thank god the doctor decided to "run a test ablation" first. Found out it would have left her with severe breathing issues for the rest of her life and didn't do it. And guess what? For the most part she is absolutely fine. I read here everyone with issues after surgery. Sad that people's quality of life is severely diminished by doctors who look for a quick way out without determining what is best suited for the patient. Everyone is different.

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Have severe scoliosis-but I look ok-auto accident 6 years ago caused severe nerve damage…tried everything even stem cell regeneration, ( which worked amazing in the area we did!) however, the government said needed more studies on that procedure for the spine. Nothing has helped for pain that spreads to pelvic area as well. Pt this whole time.
Insurance requires two successful test injections before ablation can be done. Thank goodness they do, and your daughter did not have the procedure.
So, in two hours I am having spine ablation, as I had two successful test injections. I am nervous, of course, but life as I sort of knew it has disappeared. If this doesn’t help, next step will be implant tests. Wish me well!!!

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So far so good…will take several weeks before best results, but feeling a little better in some areas. 🤞

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@tomkipp

Research laminectomy surgery. It can be performed with minimal surgery and as an outpatient to remove the cause of stenosis. Eventually, the stenosis can damage the adjacent nerves if not corrected. I waited too long and now have to deal with numbness in both feet. There are specialists that perform laminectomy surgery.

Tom

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Hi Tom, My imaging doesnt look as bad as my symptoms. I have an L 4-5 disc bulging that says minimal. My R foot has been numb for a year and a half. My L foot is starting as of a few days ago. Im in rough shape, Im numb around the waist and pelvic area with burning/numbness down the rest of leg. I hope its not too late. I havent had any injections yet and deciding between steroid or platelet rich plasma. Any feedback would be appreciated. Im 50.

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@ralphysmom

Hi Tom, My imaging doesnt look as bad as my symptoms. I have an L 4-5 disc bulging that says minimal. My R foot has been numb for a year and a half. My L foot is starting as of a few days ago. Im in rough shape, Im numb around the waist and pelvic area with burning/numbness down the rest of leg. I hope its not too late. I havent had any injections yet and deciding between steroid or platelet rich plasma. Any feedback would be appreciated. Im 50.

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Hi

My only feedback would be to have the "stenosis" evaluated to see if it is the cause. If the sciatica nerve is being damaged by the surrounding build up causing the "stenosis", it needs to be removed to free up the sciatica.
That's what the laminectomy process does.
Good Luck

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I was initially diagnosed by Mayo Clinic with idiopathic small fiber neuropathy in June 2018. Thereafter I used all kind of therapies and remedies with no positive outcome. In fact there has been progressive deterioration in my symptoms. I have always been thinking that cipro and bad back (spinal stenosis) may have contributed to it. During all these years I consulted various neurologists/Neurosurgeons and spine specialists but no one attributed my symptoms to or asdociated it with spine-related issues. It is only my recent MRI which suggests that I may be having Adhesive Arachnoiditis (AA). I heard this word the first time in my life and after some research through Google and YouTube, I understood that this is a rare disease with intractable pain and multiple complications. I also understand that only a few physicians can identify AA on an MRI, and radiologists are just now learning to spot it. I also understand that small fiber neuropathies almost always precede AA.

Based on my own situation and what I have understood through my research thus far I am of the view that all those members who have bad back/lumber issues and are labelled as idiopathic small fiber neuropathy sufferers may like to consider a fresh MRI and consultation with a physician who knows about AA. It may very well be the case that they are suffering from this miserable, rare, and untreatable condition.

I will be posting this message across all groups in order to create awareness about AA.

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