Spinal stenosis

@zeppo From your description, if I understand correctly, you have stenosis in the foramen affecting the nerve roots between L5 and S1?

I am a Mayo cervical spine surgery patient, and I know how troubling this kind of pain can be. I did have an epidural injection too that didn't help, and my recourse was surgery to decompress my spinal cord. That is always a last resort when symptoms get worse, and it is important to consider because if nerve damage occurs because of stenosis, it can become permanent, and then surgery at that time may not relieve symptoms as well as if it had been done earlier. Often failed PT would be a prerequisite to getting insurance coverage for surgery.

Still, we do the best we can with physical therapy. You may want to look at Myofascial release done with a specially trained PT. It cannot fix stenosis, but it can help with body and spine alignment by releasing overly tight fascial tissues that can be pulling on the spine. Muscle spasms go hand in hand with spine problems and can start moving vertebrae and changing alignment. Here is our link to a myofascial release discussion :

https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/ which you can find in the Neuropathy and Spine groups. The first pages have lots of links to information, and there is a provider search at http://mfrtherapists.com/

I think @artscaping Chris, may be able to share experience with CBD and pain management, and like me, she has also had a lot of success with myofascial release. Hopefully you can find something that may help.

Are you considering surgery in the future?

Hi Jennifer, thanks for all your comments. Very help. I will look into myofascial release. I am currently also having acupuncture which is focusing on releasing the back spasms pulling on the spine. I have L4-5 stenosis. Mild scoliosis at L4/5 which is also impacting my situation. Of course none of this is acute, stenosis and scoliosis have been there for years but only shown up in an MRI. Hoping to avoid surgery ( recommended laminotomy to free up the area around the nerve/ spinal cord. I currently have a conservative spine Dr May get another opinion but would like to try non surgical options first.

My husband has spinal stenosis and had broken his back when he was younger. He has had a laminectomy and tried all forms of therapy to rid himself of the pain. Tried accupunture, physical therapy, injections, ablation etc. We were at our wits end. He couldn't walk without pain. We heard about Active Release Therapy that is done by a certified chiropractor. It has been wonderful. He faithflully does his exercises several times a day and sees the chiropractor once a week. We purchased 10 sessions. Unfortunately they don't accept medicare but I have submitted the bills and don't know yet is we will be reimbursed or not. If this hadn't worked our last effort would have been stem cell treatment.

Can you explain what his exercises consist of?

The chiropractor does manipulation when he goes there once a week. The ones he does at home are bird dog, dead bug, press ups, some yoga poses like childs play. I can't get into his app right now to tell you all of them. He does them 3 times a day.

@zeppo I can certainly understand your pain and happy to assist. I also have stenosis of entire spine plus OA and chronic pain due to a fall in 1988. Fused L4-S1 in 1990 and was on disability for 5 years. My main pain control is buprenorphine patch 20mcg/7 days and high dose tincture CBD (100mg 4x/day) and THC (25mg 4x/day) with vaping between if needed. Took me over a year of experimenting. High dose THC did zip for my pain. I no longer get buzzed being an old hippie but the lack of pain is wonderful. Remember we are all different and what works for me may not do same for you. It’s a journey but don’t be discouraged. I’ve never expected to be pain free since my injury but I can walk 2 miles daily

i have severe stenosis and just discovered active release therapy. it’s been a lifesaver and has gotten me back on my feet with substantially reduced nerve pain, in only three seshes so far! definitely going to be my regular support for this unpleasant condition.

@fifilacarnivali Hello and welcome to Connect. I'm glad that active release therapy is helping you. I don't understand what that is. Would you describe it? Do you have a spine condition that is benefiting from this?

hi! yes, as i mentioned, i have severe spinal stenosis. a friend told me about a five release therapy and i’d never heard of it. i looked it up and thankfully found a practitioner close to me. it’s a technique done by a licensed chiropractor. it involves no “cracking” or spinal manipulation, but rather focuses on deep manipulation of muscles and activating greater blood flow to surrounding area. she uses some trigger points plus finds and works the muscles that have become over-extended while holding a damaged spine in place. it has given me much greater range of motion and has alleviated my nerve pain substantially. i hope that answers your question. because it is done by a trained chiropractor, it’s performed by someone who is trained well and really knows the body’s anatomy. 😊😊