Does anybody else have spinal stenosis?

[WeirdEyes]

I was diagnosed with this well over a year ago after having pain for about 7 years. The pain seems to be moving to different parts of my spine and now I'm having problems sleeping due to the pain. I'm having yet another MRI this afternoon to see if it has progressed. I can tell the doc it has progressed due to the pain. Anyway, I am only 39, which is very young to have spinal stenosis...or so I'm told by my Neurologist. Do any of you have this ailment and if so, have you had surgery? My Neurologist wants me to see a surgeon, but I'm fighting him.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Whoa this is crazy. I have never heard of spinal stenosis until this last Friday. My grandpa (84) was diagnosed with it and had to go into an emergency surgery because the spinal column was quickly closing up and cutting off the nerves and he was losing all control of things. They said if it would have been any longer he would have been paralized. He hasn't recovered all that great and they think he may have had a minor stroke due to a blood clot during the surgery. Today he is finally realizing who he is and where he is and he is beginning to be able to communicate and say more than 2 words.

So if this helps you, maybe you should consider surgery before it gets to being an emergency.

 

[WeirdEyes]

I hope your Grandpa recovers! Gosh, I hope that doesn't happen to me. My doc told me if I lose all feeling in one or both of my legs to get to the hospital ASAP. I'm just terrified to have back surgery. I'm going to find out what they say after my MRI and then I'll make a decision if I need to see a surgeon. If I do have the surgery, it will NOT be around here. I'll go to a sports medicine clinic.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I wish you the very best. Make sure to take it very serious because it sounds like it goes pretty fast when it hits a certain point. Keep me posted and let me know what your doctor says and what your final decision is.

 

[AZKathy]

My father had spinal stenosis and my brother now has been diagnosed with spinal stenosis. My dad had multiple fusions with some levels in the spine not fusing...I believe mostly because of him continuing to smoke. My brother just found out and he has started epidural steroid injections with so far doing okay.

I, also, have been blessed with the bad back genes, I guess and I have degenerative disk disease with two herniated disks and foraminal stenosis (stenosis on the nerve root openings). I don't want to gab a lot on the open forum here, but please PM me if you need to talk. I know how you feel cuz I am nearly the same age as you and facing a fusion.

 

[kdibattista]

Anyway, I am only 39, which is very young to have spinal stenosis...or so I'm told by my Neurologist. Do any of you have this ailment and if so, have you had surgery?

I do.... and I'm only 27. I was diagnosed about 3 years ago. I'm pretty lucky because I only have problems off and on. When it gets bad, it mainly affects my neck and I have a hard time keeping my head up and have a cervical collar to wear. My most recent MRI has concerned me a bit because it shows arthritis setting in along with a 2 of my discs (cervical) buldging.

I have no desire for surgery but I guess I really won't have a choice when the deterioration really starts. The most recent suggestion by my doctor is for a different kind of injection (don't recall the name) but they will burn the nerves in my neck... sounds a little too painful and a little too permanent!!!!!

Good luck and let me know if I can answer any questions.

 

[WeirdEyes]

OMG! I guess we need to start a support group just for us back people. I will let you know what the MRI shows. I REALLY don't want a fusion. That sounds WAY too painful to me.

I hope all of you get better soon. We are all too young for this to be happening to us! BTW, I've had one round of steroid shots. They worked for 6 months and were wonderful! I didn't feel hardly any pain. It has been a little over a year so my doc says I can have another round...depends on the MRI. I'll take the shots any day!

I was just wondering what your symptoms are? My lower back pain comes and goes..depends on what I'm doing. I can't lift anything heavy or it KILLS me. Some days, I can't even sweep without it hurting. Some days, I can clean the whole house with no pain. Sometimes it hurts to walk on my left leg and it does get numb from time-to-time. Three weeks ago, my middle back starting hurting a lot while I was sleeping. I couldn't sleep past 6 hours without it killing me. Now, it hurts all day (aching pain) and throbbing pain at night while I'm trying to sleep. That is after doing NOTHING!

Anybody else have these sort of symptoms?

AZKathy, I will PM you. Thanks for listening everyone!

 

[LJC1861]

8 years ago I fell while attempting a jump during a figure skating lesson and herniated the disc at the C6-C7 level. It was so bad the only option was spinal fusion surgery. They did mine through a small incision in the front of my neck and took the bone graft out of my hip. Before the surgery I had numbness in my right hand and could not feel my fingers. Immediately upon waking up, the pain and numbness was gone. I got 100% range of motion back. In short, surgery was the right decision for me. My advice is find a doctor you are comfortable with. My orthopedic surgeon was someone who worked on nothing but backs.

Now comes the second part of my story. I woke up about a month ago in intense pain. After living with it for awhile I went to my GP for some help relieving the spasms. He sent me for an MRI and some physical therapy. I got the results from the MRI a few days ago and it was not good news. The disc at the C5-6 level is now badly herniated ( 7mm into my spinal cord ) the disc above that is showing signs of stnosis and the disc above that one is also herniated 3 mm. I have to see a neurosurgeon next Tuesday. I am also going back to see the Dr. who did my surgery before and see what he says. Bottom line is I think I may be facing surgery again.

So, those of you facing this, know that there are others out there. It is tough and the recovery can be long, but your spirits have to be good or it takes even longer. How about we use this forum as a support for those who need it. I know I will!!

Linda

 

[ThAnswr]

Originally posted by WeirdEyes
I was diagnosed with this well over a year ago after having pain for about 7 years. The pain seems to be moving to different parts of my spine and now I'm having problems sleeping due to the pain. I'm having yet another MRI this afternoon to see if it has progressed. I can tell the doc it has progressed due to the pain. Anyway, I am only 39, which is very young to have spinal stenosis...or so I'm told by my Neurologist. Do any of you have this ailment and if so, have you had surgery? My Neurologist wants me to see a surgeon, but I'm fighting him.

My mother has spinal stenosis and a herniated disk. Here's a website that I have found very helpful and have even found some wonderful doctors there:

http://www.spineuniverse.com/

As far as surgery is concerned, there's minimally invasive surgery that only requires a day or two in the hospital and recovery time is several weeks. Hopefully, that'll be your case.

Anyway, take a look at spineuniverse.com, and whatever you decide, remember there's new treatments coming along everyday and there's ancient treatments like acupuncture that can help.

Good luck to you.

 

[WeirdEyes]

Linda, good luck to you! I hope that your surgery is a success and that you recover quickly. Please keep us posted.

ThAnswer, thanks for the link. I will definitely read every word!

 

[LJC1861]

What an amazing website!!!! Thanks for posting that link.


Today I went to PT. My therapist looked over the report from the radiologist and as she got further and further into the report the " Oh no's" she was saying got more andm ore intense. After she finished reading she looked at me and asked " You know what this means, don't you?" I told her I did. She pretty much confirmed for me that they do not send you for a surgical consult if the do not feel it requires surgery.

We'll see how Tuesday goes. I will most definitely keep everyone posted.

Linda

 

[AZKathy]

Originally posted by LJC1861
What an amazing website!!!! Thanks for posting that link.


Today I went to PT. My therapist looked over the report from the radiologist and as she got further and further into the report the " Oh no's" she was saying got more andm ore intense. After she finished reading she looked at me and asked " You know what this means, don't you?" I told her I did. She pretty much confirmed for me that they do not send you for a surgical consult if the do not feel it requires surgery.

We'll see how Tuesday goes. I will most definitely keep everyone posted.

Linda

God bless you! Fortunately, the cervical spine surgeries do have good results in general! Much better than lumbar spine! Take care and keep us posted!

 

[mrsstats]

Yes, spinal stenosis, herniated disk at C-5, C-6. I am 53. About 10 years ago, the surgeon told me if I did not have surgery I would be paralayzed. Got another opinion from neurosurgeon at Stony Brook University Hospital, told me I did not need surgery. I have pain mainly in my right shoulder, sometime bad, other times not. He advised unless I have problems with control of bodily functions, not to have surgery. I have found this website informative http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/index.php?

 

[CindyKansas]

My mother had surgery a year ago this month because of spinal stenosis. She ended up getting an infection and she finally was taken off the antibiotics this April. It was horrible. She still has pain and still walks with a limp. She did have a 2nd opinion before surgery but the doctors still advised surgery.