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Severe Stenosis in Lumbar Region
I have an upcoming tele-med appointment with Mayo, Medical and Surgical teams. I am stressing over the recovery: how much pain to expect, and over what period of time; can I sit; can I sit on a plane to go home to NJ; what can i expect at home; do I need a cane; a walker; is there a special pillow to allow me to sleep; will I have to take opiods; other pain meds. I am so nervous. I have been told I do not need a spinal fusion (thank God); Please help with specifics. TIA.
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Thanks for the info. I am having surgery in late June for L3 to L5. I have nerve compression, degenerative discs and spondylolisthesis. Gabapentin doesn't work for me. Too many side effects. I have had several epidurals which have lessened the pain but it is still there. It is mostly nerve pain but then it causes muscle tension in my mid back. My surgeon has had the same exact surgery I need. I had two other surgery consultations before him. He was very honest but also very hopeful. I am 49 and have arthritis issues. I have already had thumb surgery to remove a bone and reconstruct it using my tendon. I feel like if I wait longer to have this surgery until I am older, my recovery will be longer and worse. Hopefully my age will make a difference.
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3 ReactionsWife had a similar surgery in mid June 2023. They told her a year to recover. Some of the odds/ends you may want to consider. My memory may be off for timing of things and I wasn't the patient (thankfully, although my time may come...).
The 50 mile trip home from the hospital was awful - plan your route for the smoothest way home in the softest riding vehicle you can find and drive gently.
The pressure on the nerve root which caused intense pain down her leg was resolved fairly quickly - within days. She still sleeps in a recliner due to pain/inability to get in/out and sleep in her bed. Quality of the recliner is a very big deal when you're sleeping in it for so long. Hers has electric adjustment for the leg rest and the back - no pulling a lever for adjustments.
One thing they did was take some of her bone grindings and mixed it with cadaver bone to rebuild (my words) the vertebrae. Supposedly heals faster/better than cadaver bone.
You will be running back to the surgeon/ortho team for regular checkups and exams and regularly scheduled PT visits depending on need.
She has gradually reduced use of a rollator over time, but still uses it when having to walk more than a mile, ground is uneven or needs to transport something. Was walking about 1/2 mile before winter. Recently replaced the rollator for with walking poles. Now is using a treadmill and working up distance pending consistently better weather. She has a back brace which she calls a turtle shell and has used that less and less over time.
In general, it takes significant recovery to be able to negotiate steps. Railings on steps (even two steps) are necessary as are safety bars in showers. You are definitely a fall risk. Forget taking a tub bath until fully healed.
Also will need a home healthcare aide for a while to help with wound care, showers, follow-up checks. You may need domestic help if you don't have a capable significant other - cooking, cleaning, taking pets outside, transportation. Helpful to have this arranged before the surgery.
She returned to school bus driving last November. I think that was probably premature because of the strain getting up the steps to the driver's seat.
Recently, she was finally able to negotiate the stairway to get to our lower level. Progress!
Probably the most irritating thing about this was the delay because all the things the medical system tried and which failed before they finally begrudgingly settled on surgery. A lot of pain/disability working through that gauntlet. Very thankful that our PT insistently pushed this to a surgeon.
Hope this helps.
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6 ReactionsMay I ask the age of your wife at time of surgery? I am 49 and am wondering what aides I will need. I have a busy house with two teens still at home and a husband. He has a busy schedule so most things will fall on my teens to do. I am already having them help with laundry and preparing meals.
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3 Reactions72!
BTW - I'm 70 and have problems myself with neck and lower spine issues, a hip which needs replacement and I had left shoulder surgery in mid May. I got out of my sling two days before her surgery!
Definitely use your kids and HB to help - it's a good thing having them help already.
Yikes, you two have a lot going on. Hope you both are recovering.
Thanks!
@draw I've had two lumbar decompressions. All 5 of my siblings have had a lot more than that for back problems. I seem to have dodged that bullet, except for some stenosis that was probably the result of a fall from a ladder, landing sitting on the ground with my back against a concrete wall. Avoidable. Oops!
The advice from my siblings is that I avoid surgery beyond decompression. Fusions and rods have been hard on them, so unless it becomes clear that such procedures are needed, I'm going with the least invasive treatment. That's not to say that I'd refuse surgery if I get to that place, but if that time does come, I'll be asking for input from more than one doctor, for sure.
I trust that the responses to your post are proving to be helpful.
Jim
I had 3 spinal surgeries and now I cannot live without pain medication.
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1 ReactionHi! I, too, do well during the day, but do well at night, as well, as long as I only sleep on my left side (which have actually been doing before my Sept, 2019 diagnosis of severe spinal stenosis).
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1 ReactionYes, they are. thank you. Looking into getting a second opinion. Thanks for your input.