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Severe spinal stenosis
Age 71yo old gal here. L5S1 autofusion, Grace II spondylolisthesis. Severe spinal stenosis complicated by significant impingement L5 nerves, both foramen caused by loss of foramenal height. Extensive spurring. Surgery ruled out due to possible need to refracture autofusion.
Ergo, surviving with opioid "cocktail", gabapentin, +++twisting, burning, stabbing pain, both calves and thighs, 24/7.
Very cooperative helping husband but wearing thin on perseverance here. Cannot imagine another 10+ years of this with a brain that's operating at warp speed.
Perhaps there is someone somewhere sharing these same issues looking at same future.
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I was wondering about dosing as well. Thanks.
And you make a good point. Spinal stenosis may cause sciatica by pinching the sciatic nerve in the spinal canal. The symptoms of sciatica are sharp pain in the buttocks, hamstrings, and calves, usually on one side only. Sciatica is not characterized by pain in the lower back, although that is the source. So one treatment for sciatica is to ice the lower back and take an anti-inflammatory OTC medicine - aspirin or NSAIDs. Those are short term fixes though.
Sciatica can also be caused by a bulging disc. Unless the disc has ruptured, this should resolve over time without the need for surgery. I think an MRI is needed to diagnose.
I'm not aware of a non-surgical cure for sciatica caused by spinal stenosis. An epidural cortisone injection may help to reduce nerve inflammation and provide short-term relief.
I had laminotomies at S1/L5/L4 - the surgeon drills a hole in the back of each vertebra and shaves down arthritic spurs in the spinal canal (if possible). The integrity of the vertebra stays intact (as opposed to a laminectomy). But the holes themselves relieve pressure on the nerves and can reduce the pain. At least this minimally invasive surgery worked for me 10 years ago.
I'm 70 y/o now, in the gym everyday, normal weight, and I have a very strong set of core muscles. I have relocated since surgery, and my new spine Dr told me that my core is keeping me from fusion surgery. I have stenosis, scoliosis, listhesis, and degenerative discs and arthritic spurs all over my lumbar spine. I'm very motivated to keep my weight normal and my core strong.
I do have a trainer. The core is made up of close to 30 muscles! It pays to do some research and stay in shape, or lose weight and get in shape.
I know what sciatica feels like. It is awful and very painful. To my fellow sufferers, I wish you all the best!
Joe
I don't know about turmeric. If you have sciatica, the cause is a pinched nerve in your lumbar spine with pain on the back of the legs. Icing the lower back helps, as do aspirin or NDAIDs. Tylenol can help with pain relief.
Those are band aids though. If stenosis is squeezing the sciatic nerve, surgery is likely required.
A heating pad to warm up the spine before you get up might help. I sleep in my recliner most nights and have the heating pad in place so I can just turn it on before rising. Steroid epidurals help immensely
I have severe L4/5 stenosis and was experiencing sciatica pain. Following the Gokhale Primal Posture method resolved my sciatica without surgery.
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1 ReactionYes, I do. I am in severe pain daily. Injections don't work, ablation didn't work. Now what? Surgery? Idk. I am very depressed.
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1 ReactionHi, remember that you are lying in a bed all night so in the morning I have found that doing some morning stretches while still on your bed helps some. Like pulling your knees to your chest while on your back; pulling one leg at a time. Google stretches for spinal stenosis and do some that you can while in bed. Once you are up lie on the floor and do gentle back bridges. Also some good ones in a chair like ford flexion stretch.
I did for years. After it got to a less than 20% opening where the nerves come out and comlplications standing for more than 2 minutes with nerve damage, I had to have 2 surgeries. L 1 to L4 had to be rebuilt. And. Because of bone spurs and arthritis it required to have my back broke 2 times, between L1 and L2. And between L3 and L4 just to aline it up properly after the infusion. I have to admit after hearing so many people going back for more surgeries I delayed have it. Then I got to the point that I hurt 24/7. I am so glad that the Dr I went to was put in my path to do the surgeries. It should have taken me a year to be able to do what I can now 3 months after the 2 surgeries that I have had. I wish I had done this years earlier. I am 61 years old and I look forward to being able to live pain free .
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5 Reactions@soniadeshler Welcome to Connect, and thank you for your helpful comments.
Try a Castor Oil Hotpack before you go to bed. Check on the internet if you're not familiar with it, the directions are all there. If you don't have some wool, Walmart has the castor oil and wool on the same page if you order on line. Do it 3 nights in a row if necessary. I have arthritis all over and use the Castor Oil Hotpack frequently.
Hi mate, I have stenosis in cervical and lumbar, pain are virtually same in both areas but I’m scheduled for surgery on my lumbar this year, in the mornings I lay on the bed with my legs dangling over the edge and I place a pillow under my lower back so to stretch my spine and I flick my feet in circular motions, I do this for about five to ten minutes, then I lay on the floor with my knees legs bent and rock my legs gently side to side for about five minutes then go have breakfast, I have found by stretching helps me start my day including pain medication, I have tried acupuncture and dry needling but it doesn’t help me, I try walking as much as possible without aggravating my pain, I guess you need to try whatever works best for you, all the best mate.