Spine conditions: Told I would not walk without surgery

Posted by annie1 @annie1, Jan 8 9:58am

I have severe lumbar stenosis and Spondylolisthesis as well as a bulging disc. My main symptoms are throbbing in my calf muscles. I was told by a pain management Dr that he thought if I didn't have surgery I would not be able to walk in a few years ! it would be fusion. I would like people's feedback. I don't have pain in my Back, all in my legs.

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@me75

Hi, I'm 75. I had the same thing and had the surgery 15 years on the first one ago and 6 years ago on the second one and after that I had one on 10/29/23 that was scoliosis surgery from T2 to S1, it wasn't easy I was in the hospital for 10 days 2 of them in ICU with 4 pt. of blood and on the operating table for 14 hours. My doctor was a specialty spine neurosurgeon in Houston, Texas. After getting out of the hospital I have been in rehab ever since and will be through May. I had to learn how to walk again and set differently because I also had screws put in my pelvis to help hold the hardware up so now, I must bend from hips and not waist I have had to do a lot of things differently. Now I'm doing so much better, not in pain. My problem was caused by degenerative disc disease. My mother and sister have it too, my mother had no surgeries and suffered so much and ended up in a wheelchair I watched her go through all this and didn't want that for myself. I hope I have helped you. I know that every person must decide for themselves what's is best for them whatever you decide I wish you the best and God bless you, lady

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Hello. Thank you for your reply. My goodness you were young to have the op 15 years ago and on going. Glad that you are doing well now. I am amazed that so many have travelled this road of spinal problems.
My journey is just beginning. Hope I can find best way forward.
Best wishes to you.

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@jenniferhunter

@me75 I'm glad to hear that you are doing well and surgery improved your life. I also have parents in wheelchairs and knew I didn't want that either. It is hard to be disabled.

Jennifer

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Hi Jennifer , thank you I’m doing better each week I can do more for myself and not depend on my husband so much , bless his heart . I can dress and bathe myself now and much stronger because of therapy I even drove around the neighborhood but not in traffic yet I can do some things in the house , I even amaze myself how far I’ve come in a short time , it’s only been 4 1/2 months plus I’m not taking as much medication mostly Tylenol . Thanks for listening to me brag about myself .

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@me75

Hi Jennifer , thank you I’m doing better each week I can do more for myself and not depend on my husband so much , bless his heart . I can dress and bathe myself now and much stronger because of therapy I even drove around the neighborhood but not in traffic yet I can do some things in the house , I even amaze myself how far I’ve come in a short time , it’s only been 4 1/2 months plus I’m not taking as much medication mostly Tylenol . Thanks for listening to me brag about myself .

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@me75 You've earned the bragging rights! Keep up the great work with your recovery. You are smart to take it slow and 4 and a half months is pretty soon after surgery. I wasn't driving at that point yet after my cervical surgery,. I really took my time to heal too.
Jennifer

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