SURGERY for spinal stenosis & lumbar spinal fusion

Hi, I’m interested to read what comments you receive , I’m in the same situation , but quite wary of having surgery . Let me ask you please , mine is ok during the day I can manage quite well L but sleeping is horrible , I have tried many cervical pillows , wedges and cat , yo no avail, how do you manage .

I am in the same situation, just got my diagnosis and start this journey as well.
I would like to follow and hear advices,
Thank you.

In August 2023 I had a Laminectomy and double spinal fusion. I was 71. Nine months later I am dealing with several issues, foot drop ( which I fell on in Dec. and fractured) torso pain which was inflammatory in nature due to trauma of the surgery ( Celebrex helped relieve that) and now opposite side pain that stretches down from lower back/ butt/ thigh which doc says is tendinitis. I had been on Gabapentin the first 5 months but it really didn’t get rid of the shock like nerve pain that still radiated down into my calf/ foot. So I started Lyrica and this did help relieve that nerve pain. Now I take Tylenol only. I still have pain, mostly during sleep and in the morning until my body wakes up. Something about my body being compressed while laying down aggravates things. Just recently my surgeon thinks he sees loosening of the screws in the hardware in my back. That is scary. My bones are not of a 25 year old. I had to have this surgery though. I was developing drop foot which impeded normal walking and the vertebra had shifted and was pressing on the nerve root. L4 L5. S1. I hope this helps. Everyone is different. We all have various issues and age/ gender plays a role. I use trek pokes to walk outdoors. I’m unsteady but I hate the orthotic brace that was made for me. Biggest advice: walk walk walk after surgery.

Everyone’s experience is different. At age 73 I had a multi- level laminectomy and L4-L5 fusion September 2022.. I recovered well with minor residuals including leg weakness and foot numbness. My advice is get multiple surgical opinions from reputable neurosurgeons, take pain pills after surgery as long as you need them, follow the no BLT instructions, follow PT instructions and diligently to your exercises ( I still do) and have realistic expectations on recovery- it takes 9-12 months for a full recovery. Good luck.

@draw @sueholdenf @rainerhans
I am 54 and have severe congenital cervical and lumbar stenosis, degenerative disc disease, cervical spondylitic myelopathy (spinal cord flattening/conpression), radiculopathy, small fiber neuropathy, sciatica, etc. I had ACDF surgery on my c5c6 to relieve pressure and injury to my spinal cord. It helped recover better control of my bladder, arms/hands, and ability to walk without feeling like I was wearing cement boots. I am delaying having lumbar surgery l3l4l5s1 as long as possible and my doctor agrees. I have significant pain/numbness/weakness in my lower back, hips, buttocks, legs and feet and get spinal injections to help with pain (they work for me but not everyone…really depends on doctor injecting in the right spot), use lidocaine pain patches (like Salonpas brand), and use capsaicin nerve pain creams. I cannot sit, stand or walk for long due to pain and weakness. Moving positions in bed is difficult and I do use cervical pillow, pillows between knees, etc. I have hurt myself while moving in bed and need to be careful not to twist my spine too much. I use on Tylenol now due to NSAIDs causing gastritis/esophagitis. I started taking a low dose of Gabapentin at night (100 mg) for nerve pain. I also take antidepressant Bupropion to help with depression due to chronic pain and health decline. Strengthening your core and stretching has helped me manage pain (have done Miranda Esmonde White’s Classical Stretch/Essentrics videos which are helpful for those needing floor options to start exercising gradually). My doctor who has done my spine injections told me that many who get lumbar spine surgery still deal with pain and need injections so surgery may not resolve all problems and could introduce new problems. If you have other options to manage your condition to delay surgery, you may want to explore them fully. Get updated EMGs, MRN, nerve conduction studies, MRIs to narrow down the exact locations of spinal cord or nerve root compression and if PT/injections would help delay surgery as long as possible.

Thank you so much for your information.
While engaged in home workout with bands slightly over head felt something in my cervical neck area. I stopped my routine, the next day had stiffness/soreness into both harms.
Finally after dealing with symptoms for a few months doctor agreed to to MRI.
Findings, moderate/severe cervical stenosis, the good news is spinal canal is not compressed.
The issue is the openings were the nerves come through, not enough room, this is whats creating my symptoms.
Symptoms: Loss of strength/grip,
headaches created by cervical strain (I believe). But my biggest concern (and you touched on it) dizziness, clumsiness (the cement shoes affect).
My primary doctor tells me the dizziness is not being created by cervical stenosis! I know the symptoms came at the same time and I feel 99% sure these are related.
My Routine daily consists of stretching, including using a peanut to get my neck moving and it also stretch's the area, rolling out entire back with hard foam roller.
Chore strengthening, followed by 40 minutes on elliptical with free weights or bands for strength.
Would consult with your doctor or physical therapist before starting your routine.
One last recommendation, I get 1-2 massage treatments a month and they seem to help me with the pressure in neck and head.
Hope this can help anyone dealing with similar situation.
OlyT

Thanks for the info. I am having surgery in late June for L3 to L5. I have nerve compression, degenerative discs and spondylolisthesis. Gabapentin doesn't work for me. Too many side effects. I have had several epidurals which have lessened the pain but it is still there. It is mostly nerve pain but then it causes muscle tension in my mid back. My surgeon has had the same exact surgery I need. I had two other surgery consultations before him. He was very honest but also very hopeful. I am 49 and have arthritis issues. I have already had thumb surgery to remove a bone and reconstruct it using my tendon. I feel like if I wait longer to have this surgery until I am older, my recovery will be longer and worse. Hopefully my age will make a difference.

Wife had a similar surgery in mid June 2023. They told her a year to recover. Some of the odds/ends you may want to consider. My memory may be off for timing of things and I wasn't the patient (thankfully, although my time may come...).

The 50 mile trip home from the hospital was awful - plan your route for the smoothest way home in the softest riding vehicle you can find and drive gently.

The pressure on the nerve root which caused intense pain down her leg was resolved fairly quickly - within days. She still sleeps in a recliner due to pain/inability to get in/out and sleep in her bed. Quality of the recliner is a very big deal when you're sleeping in it for so long. Hers has electric adjustment for the leg rest and the back - no pulling a lever for adjustments.

One thing they did was take some of her bone grindings and mixed it with cadaver bone to rebuild (my words) the vertebrae. Supposedly heals faster/better than cadaver bone.

You will be running back to the surgeon/ortho team for regular checkups and exams and regularly scheduled PT visits depending on need.

She has gradually reduced use of a rollator over time, but still uses it when having to walk more than a mile, ground is uneven or needs to transport something. Was walking about 1/2 mile before winter. Recently replaced the rollator for with walking poles. Now is using a treadmill and working up distance pending consistently better weather. She has a back brace which she calls a turtle shell and has used that less and less over time.

In general, it takes significant recovery to be able to negotiate steps. Railings on steps (even two steps) are necessary as are safety bars in showers. You are definitely a fall risk. Forget taking a tub bath until fully healed.

Also will need a home healthcare aide for a while to help with wound care, showers, follow-up checks. You may need domestic help if you don't have a capable significant other - cooking, cleaning, taking pets outside, transportation. Helpful to have this arranged before the surgery.

She returned to school bus driving last November. I think that was probably premature because of the strain getting up the steps to the driver's seat.

Recently, she was finally able to negotiate the stairway to get to our lower level. Progress!

Probably the most irritating thing about this was the delay because all the things the medical system tried and which failed before they finally begrudgingly settled on surgery. A lot of pain/disability working through that gauntlet. Very thankful that our PT insistently pushed this to a surgeon.

Hope this helps.

May I ask the age of your wife at time of surgery? I am 49 and am wondering what aides I will need. I have a busy house with two teens still at home and a husband. He has a busy schedule so most things will fall on my teens to do. I am already having them help with laundry and preparing meals.

72!
BTW - I'm 70 and have problems myself with neck and lower spine issues, a hip which needs replacement and I had left shoulder surgery in mid May. I got out of my sling two days before her surgery!

Definitely use your kids and HB to help - it's a good thing having them help already.