Persistent leg weakness following fusion surgery for severe stenosis

Posted by mkos12 @mkos12, Jan 14 9:09pm

Hello - I'm a 56 yo male with two previous laminectomies in 1995 and 2014. My back problems were likely precipitated by a bad parachute landing in 1992. Up until this current situation I was active; daily gym, hiking, biking, and swimming.
Starting in Aug 2024 I noticed right leg hamstring weakness and foot drop with occasional trips and falls. However, I did not experience any back pain or sciatica. I went to a large Boston hospital for MRIs, CT /PET, X-Ray, biopsies, spinal taps and many other tests for MS, ALS, Guillain-Barre, viral infections etc, etc. The neurologists settled on a diagnosis of neurosarcodosis (lesions on lower thoracic and upper lumbar). The MRIs also showed severe lumbar stenosis but because I didn't have pain they focused on the former. I was progressively treated with oral steroids, IV high-dose steroids, oral methotextrate, and remicade infusions. Symptoms continued to worsen; increasingly difficult to go up/down stairs, more falls, my legs would seize/spasm, stopped driving and needed canes. By Sep 2025, I was using a walker half of the time. My neurologist consulted a neurosurgeon who advised surgery to address the stenosis. I had lumbar fusion surgery on Oct 21, 2025. I was in the hospital for one week post surgery followed by three weeks in-patient rehab at a skilled nursing facility.
After several weeks of at-home PT/OT I am now transitioning to out-patient.
My concern is that I have had minimal, if any, improvement post-surgery. In fact, I am still well behind where I was the day before surgery. I can walk maybe 15 to 20 feet with the walker before my right leg becomes unstable and I fall. I need a wheelchair the vast majority of the time. Stairs are currently out of the question. I need someone to put on/take off shoes and compression socks, as well as wipe my feet. I am unable to fully clean up after using the toilet. I have to shower sitting down. Luckily our condo allows one-floor living.

My neurosurgeon initially said it could take three to five months to get some recovery; he is now saying a year. The fact that I have improved so little is concerning to me, at least.

I would welcome any input from those who have similar diagnoses. What were the treatment(s) and the outcomes? Were any other courses of action taken that proved to be helpful? Thanks!

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I am a 67 year old female. Prior to my surgery in late August 2025, I had been very active- lifting weights, cardio 5x a week and helping eith our 5 grandkids.
I was having trouble with left hip pain but after PT and hip workup revealed it wasn't my hip, they did an MRI. They found I had a spondylothesis at L3 and severe stenosis from L3 down-
I am 5 months post op PLIF surgery for spondylothesis and severe stenosis. I am having leg weakness as well plus sharp buttocks pain every time I step on my affected (left) side. I will have MRI this week to determine if it is a failed surgery, hip bursitis or further stenosis causing nerve compression.
Your story breaks my heart for you and I pray they will be able to help you!!!

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Profile picture for wywomanjk @wywomanjk

I am a 67 year old female. Prior to my surgery in late August 2025, I had been very active- lifting weights, cardio 5x a week and helping eith our 5 grandkids.
I was having trouble with left hip pain but after PT and hip workup revealed it wasn't my hip, they did an MRI. They found I had a spondylothesis at L3 and severe stenosis from L3 down-
I am 5 months post op PLIF surgery for spondylothesis and severe stenosis. I am having leg weakness as well plus sharp buttocks pain every time I step on my affected (left) side. I will have MRI this week to determine if it is a failed surgery, hip bursitis or further stenosis causing nerve compression.
Your story breaks my heart for you and I pray they will be able to help you!!!

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@wywomanjk Please let me know your findings. For me, post-surgery I also have lower back/hip pain and right leg / foot numbness.

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Profile picture for cori @ccchang

@wywomanjk Please let me know your findings. For me, post-surgery I also have lower back/hip pain and right leg / foot numbness.

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@ccchang I am still awaiting the official report. I am a retired xray tech and the MRI tech let me look at my scans yesterday. I have more stenosis at the level above my fusion and I am thinking nerve compression is the cause of my pain.

How far out from your surgery are you? Did you have severe stenosis? It may take time for the nerves to regenerate. That is my hope for you!

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