Severe spinal stenosis

@alicemae probably 25 years ago I was younger and more in shape and things weren’t as as painful. I do know that my doctor only did three levels on two sides or six levels on one side at a time and so I had to go back quite a few times for diagnostic purposes for them to figure out where they were gonna do the RFA. It was extremely helpful and it worked really well until it got a few years out from the time where I needed lumbar surgery and my back pain wouldn’t abate. But also my nerves were compressed such that the weight of my vertebrae, crushed the nerve roots and I ended up not having any pain, but that wasn’t a good thing. It is always best to see an orthopedic surgeon and to be under a care of an orthopedic surgeon so when the time is right for surgery, you trust that the proper decision is being made. As far as the pain for the RFA’s initially I wouldn’t miss a beat and I’d go walk the dog afterwards. Later on I was so compromised that it took me a couple days to get back in the swing of things. I was very achy at the injection site. As far as pain when you were on the table ask them to use twilight sleep method. That’s what they do for me and I feel no pain. They use that twilight sleep stuff and then they inject some numbing medicine and only then after they inject the needles to do the work. I just did a Cortizone injection and it only lasted a week so it’s back to the pain medicine for me. I also find when I exercise more I sleep deeper and that lessons my sense of pain. Sometimes I even sleep so relaxed and so deeply that I’ll have a rare morning where I wake up with no pain because I’ve slept so deep deeply and relaxed my muscles. Which makes me believe that a lot of this I bring on myself from not relaxing enough! PS when those lightning paint bolt stopped when I would reach. My nerves were completely crushed in my lumbar spine, and my vertebrae bone had grown together the disc falling completely out. It was nice to be without the pain, but I was taking immediately into surgery by the new orthopedic surgeon I had found at the time and it was too late to save some of the nerves. If those lightning bolt Joel have stopped in your spine I suggest you get to see a good orthopedic surgeon sooner rather than later!

Sorry for getting your name wrong on my first comment jtw (not btw).....

It's good that you work on your core, and hey, we can all do more! One of my favorites is a simple glute bridge. Lie on your back, knees bent, and raise your torso as high as you can. Do 10 slow reps, and on the 11th, hold for 30 seconds. This is great for the glutes and lower back.

And a very simple sit up/ab workout starts the same, lying on your back, knees bent. Extend your arms straight out - reach for the sky or ceiling. Then raise your torso and focus on hinging from your waist. You'll only go up a little, but you should feel the tension in your abs. Repeat 10 times, less or more depending on comfort.

These are two easy-to-do exercises that will help your core, front and back.

All the best!

Joe

Hi Dallas,

Stenosis is a drag. Does it press on your sciatic nerve? You'd notice pain in the back of your legs, buttocks if this is the case. Sounds like you have pretty typical morning stiffness but no leg pain.

Take a look at my comment to jtw on exercises to strengthen the core. These will help your back.

My stenosis got so bad that I had laminotomies on S1/L5/L4 - the surgeon drilled a hole in the back of each vertebra, allowing more space for the sciatic nerve. Simple surgery, doesn't compromise the integrity of the vertebrae. It was either this or fusion, and I didn't want fusion. That was over 10 years ago and still feels good (although my lower back is stiff and sore after sitting too long). There are stretches you can do for the lower back and can just search for them on Google. Ice, not heat, helps as well. I never put heat on my lower back. Feels good but increases inflammation in its wake.

All the best to you!

Joe

I have spinal stenosis (and have herniated discs about 4x now). I bought a candy cane-shaped pillow earlier this year from MedCline and it has helped me find some comfort at night. It supports different sleeping positions.

I also find a gentle stretch before bed helps reduce nighttime/waking pain. The two stretches that I tend to do are reaching for my feet (but let gravity do the stretching) and a deep squat (think of what you see many Asian cultures do). I don't often take oral painkillers, but do find that the topical cream, Voltaren (or the Rx version) helps. Insurance may not cover it for this purpose, but you can look for it in the stores under the name Voltaren. You may also want to reconsider your mattress as it being too soft or too firm can also be problematic. I find keeping my spine straight (no curving side-to-side) relieves the pain.

@heyjoe415 the sciatica starts each evening and both legs ache like toothaches. I have brittle bones so my exercised are with my physical therapist

Thanks Dallas, and I'm so sorry for what you're going through.

I've had two bouts of sciatica - the first one resolved after about a month, but it was awful. Felt like an icepick in my calf.

The second bout was many years later. The disc at S1/L5 had partially ruptured. A surgeon used a minimally-invasive surgery (is that an oxymoron?) to remove the disc fragment and create room for the sciatic nerve via lamintomy. Still haven't need fusion, and that's why I keep my core strong.

Is surgery an option for you, probably fusion, but maybe something less intense? What does your back surgeon think? I imagine having osteoporosis (brittle bones) also plays a factor.

I dread fusion surgery. I've had four joints replaced - both knees, one hip, one shoulder - and got almost immediate pain relief. But if sciatica came back and the pain was chronic, I guess I'd do the fusion.

In the meantime, I suggest icing your lower back to reduce inflammation around the sciatic nerve. Never use heat as it results in inflammation and more pain.

All the best to you Dallas, and I sincerely hope you find some relief.

Joe

I experience the same. Have you had any physical therapy? They can help with your mobility and stiffness. I have severe stenosis L4-L5 and it has made a difference along with a steroid injection. I am not perfect but am moving better. I am also focusing on stretching and moving as much as possible.

I have lumbar stenois getting going in the morning is a ritual I'm and early morning gym person it seems when I get out of bed and my body settles and realizes it's upright some days it's like OMG so I have to get up early enough so I can do what needs to be done before I can get out of the house walking you might want to say "half way normal" hot rag compresses on my lower back (oh how I don't want to stop it feels so good) stretching is a must before I leave the house, I down a yogurt and take 2 Tylenol. I was reading in another health community site on this subject someone suggested the patches(Bio-Freeze)what I first used but they are good but expensive before bed with Tylenol so I tried it one weekend boy did it help no more hot compresses. My husband shared a couple of his lidocaine patches with me, He said he didn't like that cold feeling when applying them, I didn't care they worked for me I got a script from my the Dr. for Lidocaine patches 5%(can only be gotten through Insurance) and it makes things for me more manageable in the mornings, may drop a couple of Tylenol during the day. I'm to the point I skip some nights with the patches. Hope this can help you in some way.

@heyjoe415 Thank Joe. This has been going on for a number of years. Rehab Drs have said surgery is not an option for me with osteo and being a DES Daughter. Physican therapy, pain meds and now my new recliner - from Relax the Back - had helped soooo much. Do not need my canes like I was relying on. I use ice.. so helpful. I have had a back week of night pain. I use Ralph's secret sauce to help with the pain.

Being a DES Daughter has been rough my entire life..especially the past couple of years.

Karen

try sleeping on a gentle heating pad.