Severe spinal stenosis

I have had numbness in both legs, Spinal stenosis, getting worse. Use to take sleeping pills to go into sleep mode. Did not like those pills. Someone recommended meditation. Now I am listening 1 hour at bedtime and 1 hour before getting at morning time. Many times I wake up in middle of the night and discover my cell is still connected to Meditation site. Here is the meditation site: Inside Timer. Enjoy!

My Mom has had stenosis for at least 20 years. She has some discomfort upon waking in the morning and uses walking aids throughout day. She has experienced “flares” about twice a year, with it she has extreme pain for approximately 7-10 days. The last flare was torture-very little relief with twice daily hydrocodone. The most recent CT scan revealed severe multi-level lumbar degenerative disc disease/malalignment and mild lumbar dextroscoliosis, most pronounced at L4-L5 indicating severe central spine stenosis. L3-L4 right central disc extrusion and progression of L2-L3 degenerative disc disease. Severe chronic bilateral sacroilititis.

I understand completely. I would be very reluctant to have anyone cutting into my back as well. However, I have had just about every type of treatment known to man. My pain has been ramping up to the point where I can't do much of anything any more. The SCS trial is minimally invasive...no cutting. Just a small lead inserted into the space next to your spinal cord. That is connected to an external "battery" that your wear for 4-7 days. If your get decent pain relief, you can opt for the permanent implant. I don't really have any options left. I hope you find something that will give you some relief.

I am amazed when I read these comments about back pain. I have scoliosis and a ruptured disc. A back specialist told me that an operation would put me into a wheel chair. I do believe that we are all just experimental specimens. So I depend on Hydrocodon or Advil, depending on the degree of pain. You learn to live with it.

My doc said this week the numbness and tingling in legs snd feet from nerve compression in spine is not neuropathy but radiculopathy!!!! Good to know.

gotoandrea,
no surgeries, would she consider injections. Radiofrequency ablation might help pain related to the spinal nerves. Some get great relief with epidural injections t L4-5, L2-3.
Steroid injections in the SI joints might help. They didn't help me at all.

Mom says that hydrocodone only makes you not care as much that you are in pain. She thinks percodan works better and fentanyl works best of all. Pain buster creme is her topical. It's just a distraction, though.

20 years is a lot of suffering.
Hoping she finds relief.

She has tried the spinal injection with no relief. You are correct about hydrocodone. I will look into the ablation and definitely the fentanyl and percodan. Thank you for the suggestions!

I enjoy hearing others issues. I have severe stenosis cervical and lumbar. Everything is getting more pronounced
Balance/neuropathy/ leg pain all day everyday/ spasms/
My restless legs consist of visible muscle spasms starting at panty line down to knee in electrical fashion
I get injections regularly in neck low back left chest area/ occipital/ and shoulders
Did health care and was a reckless tomboy.
At 70 I’m getting down. Can’t and don’t want to do anything!
Any suggestions how to cope?
Also diabetic/ Graves’ disease. It’s a viscous circle ?

These problems with aging are no fun, for sure! Have you tried any physical therapy? And what about a spinal cord stimulator (SCS)? Perhaps you could ask your Pain Management doctor if he thinks it might help with the constant pain? There are discussions here on Connect regarding the SCS and people have shared their experiences. I can understand the wanting to not do anything feeling.... but sometimes we have to force ourselves to keep going and doing what we can. It's easy to get down/depressed with these new limitations. Depression hates a moving target. So I try to keep doing the things I still can. I go for short walks. I paint/create art. I do little jobs in my garden. I read a good book. I find a good movie that will life my spirits and distract me. I wish you well! Mike

The only thing that has ever worked consistently for me is prayer. For healing, for endurance, for patience. I’m praying for you all.