Spinal stenosis ligament surgery: Heard of it or had it done?

I had a minor decompression surgery last year for spinal stenosis that caused right side sciatica on me. The surgery was great. It was scary at first because I still had the same sciatic pain for about a week after the surgery. Then at about day 10 my pain was completely gone. However, at the 2 week mark I decided to go to the gym and do hamstring curls like an idiot and screwed up the other side. My advice is to wait a month before starting rehab. Just walk every hour for 5 minutes or so as tolerated. I am getting an epidural L5-S1 injection tomorrow for “diagnostic” purposes. If it helps significantly, my neurosurgeon will know where he needs to concentrate on my next decompression surgery because currently the MRI is inconclusive as to where my nerve is being compressed or scraped when twisting. I only have severe arthritis in my L4-L5 and moderate stenosis in my L5-S1. This time I will probably wait 6 weeks before I start rehab and 3 months before I start trying to jog or lift weights again.
I have had 1 orthopedic surgeries in the last 16 years, and I have not regretted any of them. Only one I wouldn’t have done was a knee meniscus surgery that didn’t hurt me but also didn’t help much. You just have to ask yourself if you can live with what you are getting fixed. You also have to consider the small possibility of the surgery failing or making things worse. I know, it’s a tough decision and there are no take backs in life. Good luck!

@closer0043 thanks for the information. As I have a cruise planned with lots of walking in November I am going to tough it out if I can until after that

The procedure is called MILD, minimaly invasive lumbar decompression, basically rotor rooter around affected level.

It will help centeral stenosis which is pressure around the central canal but not much effect on foraminal stenosis which is where nerve exits spine.

I had it done a year ago, it is fairly simple, lot of people go home same day. I had 3 levels done late in day at a hospital so I stayed a day.

I stayed away from work for 2 weeks as my work is physical and kept lifting at 10lbs for 2 months, extra cautious and still keep my lifting down.

Helped left leg but not right, only option now is fusion but no regrets on doing the MILD.

Did a cruise a couple months after procedure, kinda sucked but I'm used to that.

Couple things that helped me was a cordless heating pad that you could use the battery packs in and a foam mattress topper. We just order that from Amazon delivered to hotel day before and just leave it when we are done. Makes bed a little higer so we have really small fold up step

Also handheld shower and chair. If there isn't one just ask the ship people and they will change it out. If they give a little flack just talk to the ADA people

Thanks am going to send a message to the doctor who did the epidurals and ask what he recommends - do it now or wait. Main complaint at the moment is aching thighs when standing