Spinal stenosis

lululu

Rhuematologist showed my MRI/ST scans to me yesterday I clearly have narrowing of the spinal canal, I have had some injections and am waiting for injection with xray direction, and my meds have been increased. The thought of surgery frightens the ---- out of me. Has anyone had surgery for this and what was the outcome please.

hileena111

Hi
I'll be watching this thread with interest.
I had one THR...the other one due to be done {sometime} :roll:
I have kypho scoliosis and my ortho sent me for an MRI on my back {1 week ago} I'm waiting for the results of that.
He said that he thought I had spinal stenosis but we are waiting for the MRI results....like you I'm dreading what will be the outcome. The thing is I'm 66 so I doubt that they would do any operations on my spine :?: :?:
Apparently I will have to see the back specialist when the results of the MRI come through.
I know this is no help to you but I'll be watching the rest of the replies
Thanks for posting
Love
Hileena

Folara

I have spinal stenosis but it's not overly bad at the mo. My mum also had this and had it operated on. She had a weird pioneering op that uses the back muscles as a sling to support the back. It's been a god send for her.

I've had facet joint injections about 6 weeks ago but these have made my back pain worse. I'm off to the pain clinic tomorrow and hoping for some news on what else they can do.

Don't worry about the op. nowadays back surgery is common place and there are massive leaps in technology and new surgery. If they really didn't think they could help they wouldn't do it so please try not to get worked up about it.

Fols x

Oh and Hileena, my mum was 68 when they did hers so you never know hun. X

elnafinn

I had narrowing of the spinal cord due to a couple of vertebrae touching it. Had three vertebrae fused, a plate inserted and a piece of my hip bone used as a bone graft. Had this done at the end of September. See him this September for a one year check.

Symptoms caused by the narrowing of the spinal cord are improving slowly. I was told it can take up to two years for improvements to show up. My walking was affected and numbness/pin s and needles in arms and hands.
I was given no guarantee there would be improvement but at least it would not get worse if I had the op so I went for it.

Elna x

lululu

Thanks a lot folks I knew someone would know about it. I feel a little better now. Thanks again.

barbara12

Hi Lulu
My MRI showed the same, in a couple of places, my consultant said he could operate but I had to know all the pros and cons first, I forget the percentage of the ones that work,so I have decline surgery for the min, and I am due to have another epidural at the beginning of June...I am just hoping that it works.
Wishing you well with everything x

lululu

Thanks for that Barbara, I am trying to weigh it up, I think I will be the same as yourself. Elna describes it well but I am wondering about the recovery period, I think I would go in a low way if I was laid up for more than say a couple of weeks. My main problem seems to be at C4/C5, C5/C6 and C6/C7 some other bits are not so good either, I sort of wondered how I would be able to move my head if the vertabre were fused, I now have more questions for the end of August. Meanwhile I am now waiting for an appt. for injection under Xray guidance I hope that helps.
Thanks again.

hileena111

Hi
Like I said I would be following this with interest. My MRI results should be through by the middle of the week so we'll tke it from there.....dont think it will be any different to the one done after me THR and it showed a lot of things wrong.
You might find me back asking questions shortly
Thanks for the thread
Love
Hileena

skezier

Hi Lulu,

This one I do know about i had a full decompression years ago and they widened the spinal canal so it must have been either stenosis or something that did the same thing.

Yep its a long jagged scare.... However it gave me back my legs and cut the pain down but a good 70%. It went wrong with me to a degree. They found a few bits of extra bone and the widening and removal of that lot wasn't what i went in for (I had gone for a 3 disc laminectomy but when he got in there it sort of changed )

I have to say he should have woken me up and askled me I guess but I am so glad he didn;t as what he did would have sounded frightening.... However Lulu it was done in october 1988 and dispie all the trasheing the back has done that bit still holds!

Flower I know its scarey but if they say about surgery its not too bad..... I was out of it for 72 hours Had 5 different infections, a temp of 106 and vaugly remember being chucked in a bath of ice Thats not the normal though but it was still SO worth it it really was.

With the stenosis though things like the gabapeptin or pregabalin can work wonders if you can take them. Mine left permanent damage at S1 and S2 root endings and the pregabs are so good at keeping that within a manageable level.

Pre-op they did nerve blocks and they kinda helped a small bit but now they do a load of jabs with xray into the spine and be honest they help to some degree and are not too bad to have either.

Hang in there Lulu they can help you without surgery as well but if they offer it... I promise you mine really was so worth it. Cris xx

lavenderlady

I've had the results of my spinal mri which along with my lower back which is messed up thats their words not mine now my c5 right and c7 left are badly damaged with bony growths along with many more part of my spine being affected, I am having many problems which I am hoping this is why as i no longer have much hand and right arm strength my arm gets terrible pins and needles if I hold my arm down the pain is indiscribable I've also had 19 x rays which showed that ever joint is affected by OA and is getting worse as time goes by i was in my late 20s when this all started and am now 51 had 5 kids been married for 33 years although I cannot work I am resonably happy, I guess I have accepted my lot my many Drs all repoert I am a laid back lady who accepts things amazingly well, they dont know that I often cry and get stressed out, but there are many others worse off then me I've had my wrist replaced with a new joint my big toe done am waiting for my knee hip and other big toe thumb and wrist to be sorted but hey nothing I can do about it , so I accept it I dont like it but I know coming on here now and again sorts me out as there is alwasy someone who knows what I'm babbling about when I need any ops doing on my spine etc I know I can count on you to help me through with it

lululu

Hey please stop these scarey stories :roll: This is maybe too much info for me I am a right wuzz. Cris I am already on the pregabs and the sulfas along with others, and yes they are helping a lot. Thank you for taking the time to help me Cris I know it is not easy for you. Me being a practical sort of person I think this is a mechanical problem and I think you have convinced me to go for the surgery when it is offered but it may take me some time to admitt it, if you see what I mean. Thank you too Lavender Lady and Hileena do keep looking in you have a vested interest, and forwarnd is forarmed.