unstable L4/5

Hello, I am no expert, but I am curious what your symptoms are. Do you have pain?

What about weakness in your legs?

Second opinion??

I don’t know where you live.
The New England Spine and Disk Institute in Orange, CT has a special table that stretches the spine to allow the vertebrae to become re-aligned. In August I plan to schedule a session on that table.
I’ll post more info on Friday when my husband gets his next stem cell therapy treatment for arthritis in his knees.

I have back pain in my lower back which can be very painful at times. I can't do a lot of walking without it starting to hurt and also my legs feel very unstable. I haven't walked normal for so long because of favoring my back. It hurts when I step with my right leg putting weight on it.

Have they tried other options? Like a steroid injection at that spine level.
I had a very similar situation and I finally had the surgery. It was the weakness that finally made me get the surgery. Your nerves are being pinched as they exit the spine due to the stenosis. Again, I am no expert, but I believe the weakness will get progressively worse and the longer you let it go, the less likely a full recovery will be possible.

I will say recovery has been more difficult than I had hoped and I do have some residual pain that is very troubling. However the leg weakness has resolved at least 85-90%. I am about 9 weeks post surgery by the way.

I had gotten to the point where I could barely walk across the street to get the mail. I am only 56 and was in pretty good shape and very active.

Anyway, my thought is that there are ways to deal with pain, but you can’t do anything about the weakness and it is likely progressive.

So ask your doctor if there is any chance that weakness is going to get better. My guess is he will say no.

As I said, I am 9 weeks post surgery, so all of this is fresh in my mind. Feel free to ask me any questions and I will do my best to answer.

Thanks for your input Joel. I am (was) very active, will be 56 next week, and was recently diagnosed with severe spinal stenosis in my L4-L5 and severe foraminal narrowing in my L5-S1. My first spine doctor sent me off to PT which isn’t ever going to give your spinal cord and exiting nerves more room to breathe. Even people on this site have said my reports seem pretty normal for someone my age. I guess the word severe means nothing to these people. What’s worse, fatal?
I also am most concerned about the leg weakness which is worse on the right, but evident in both legs. My legs are starting to slightly atrophy. My toes are numb, hot, and cold depending on the time of day. I do have lower back pain that can be managed, but one wrong move and I get the lightning pain down both legs. I’m sure the doctor will want me to get a shot next, but I will refuse as that won’t decompress my suffocating nerves.
I have a second opinion scheduled in about 7 weeks. I hope your strength continues and your pain subsides. Stay positive!

I went to a similar place two years ago. I discovered it was run by a chiropractor. They also had special tables to realign the spine. I was sent for a CT scan because he didn't like the MRI. After the results came back, he sat down and proceeded to point out all the terrible things wrong with my spine: herniated disks everywhere (the MRI showed no such thing). It was a wonder I could walk. Now, his 30 day program involved coming in weekly to get "stretched". Also will sell you vital nutrient packs to help the disks return to their normal size and shape (any of this sounding familiar?). Normally, this amazing program is $12,000 (no insurance coverage), but today, if you sign up, the price is $9200. Why, yes, we offer financing. One stop shopping.
I said no thanks. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't". It's your money. I''m just giving you my experience.

@joelhoward1092
Thank you for sharing your experience. I am 54 soon to be 55 and dealing with cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis and DDD, etc. I had ACDF surgery on C5C6 due to cervical spondylitic myelopathy which affected arms/legs, hands/feet, bladder, walking, etc. I have severe stenosis at L4-L5 and doing injections for pain to delay surgery but not really working well anymore. I have significant weakness and fatigue and hard to walk, stand, sit, etc. for very long. What type of surgery did you have? I may need to consider surgery sooner rather than later because I am concerned about permanent damage to nerves/spinal cord and worsening weakness by delaying surgery. Thanks!

I have not had surgery yet. Waiting for a date and time. I just don't know enough about the recovery process.
Did not know I would have to wear a brace and for how long. I'm sure there are many restrictions, I just don't know what they are. I 'm not happy about a surgery without any guarantee I will be better.

I had a hemilaminectomy at L4-L5, which is fairly minor surgery as far as spine surgeries go. I have also had a fusion at L5-S1 and C5-C6 and C6-C7.

If I were you I would at least be checking into surgery as soon as possible. I am not sure where you live, but it often takes a long time just to get scheduled for surgery. As I am sure you know, nothing happens quickly in the medical field!