Newly Diagnosed Moderate Central + Foraminal Spinal Stenosis L4-L5

I had a lamenectomy done it took care of my numbness in my legs, but still had problems with my right butt cheek can't stand, can't sit very long and walking is very hard, so they fused L4 and L5 still no relief, so they fused S1 still no relief, then a MRI said I had a torn labrum in my right hip so I had a hip replacement still in pain, I'm on meds strong one's barely helping, Now diagnosed with bladder cancer, just had my port put in yesterday, I live on Advil which is not good for my liver and kidneys. If I was you I would get a second opinion, they meaning the Dr's no that %90 of patients will come back for more surgeries , I'll pray for you 🙏 but please get a second opinion i wish I did, I went to Rush In Chicago supposed to be the best spine help , I disagree and I also did a nerve stimulator that did absolutely nothing for me

* know

@abettera1961 So sorry to hear that you are going through all this! It’s awful.

The doctor said that depending on the EMG results I might need an injection or a referral to a neurosurgeon. I’ll start looking around for means to get another opinion!

Re Rush, I had tickets for Toronto, but sold them because I was in too much pain to go. I hope you did enjoy the show.

Take care.

I was diagnosed with severe L4-5 spinal stenosis several years ago and was looking at the prospect of surgery. I discovered and trained myself with the Gokhale Primal Posture Method and have avoided surgery and maintain a physically active lifestyle.

@sbcarcht Thanks. It’s nice to hear that you were able to avoid surgery and maintain an active life!

How did you go about learning the Gokhale Method? What symptoms did it resolve for you? How long did it take?

Sounds like the root cause of your pain is not been diagnosed.
Stenosis is just a general term for narrowed spaces around the nerves and can have lots of causes and symptoms.

My non-surgical Dr, has always preached that imaging does not show pain.
Its really a giant puzzle to figure out and imaging just part of it.

You are just at the begining, there are a lot of different options.
If a fusion is mentioned to you please read this article, it is long but good.
https://tinyurl.com/4br244ps
I have been through all the shots, PT, Drugs, and MILD surgery and am unfortunately at the point of a 3 level fusion just a matter of what type, who does it and when.

The biggest thing that helps me is keep moving.
Heating pad helps me a lot some people use ice.

Good luck

@wantlifeback I was experiencing shooting sciatica pains down my legs. I started with the book which seemed to make sense. I then did a daylong group training class. I haven’t had any sciatica pains in several years now.

@jlssurplus Thanks for your insight. It seems that you have been through a lot and I’m sure it hasn’t been easy. I hope that your fusion is a success.

I read the article and it’s excellent. That site seems like a good resource.

Re my symptoms, my MRI L4-L5 seems to match my knee and shin symptoms. I believe that the doctor is sending me for the EMG to determine if it’s nerve irritation or nerve damage. I’m not sure about the match to my back pain or my right heel pain (I thought that was S1).

L4-L5: Disc bulge, facet arthropathy, and hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum cause moderate narrowing of the spinal canal. There is narrowing in the subarticular zones bilaterally, worse on the left, likely impinging upon the traversing L5 nerve roots. There is mild right and moderate left foraminal narrowing, which may impinge upon the exiting left L4 nerve root.

Some other levels show mild narrowing of the spinal canal, and mild bilateral foraminal narrowing.

I have been trying to keep moving, but I find that I have to sit or lay down quite often to relieve my knees and shins. I’m using both heat and ice.

I started physical therapy a few weeks ago. I’m not sure if it will help, but it’s worth a try. I’m concerned because the damage has been going on for years and just reared its ugly head.

@sbcarcht Thanks. I found the book at my local library so will check it out!