Spinal Stenosis

[PixieStix]

I was diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis, my Dr. thinks I have lumbar stenosis.

It is pretty dangerous, if I don't agree to have surgery.

I have never had major surgery so I am torn.

[Perianne]

Oh, I am soooo sorry. That can be tough. Are you experiencing any numbness or pain in your extremities?

[Gunny]

Oh, I am soooo sorry. That can be tough. Are you experiencing any numbness or pain in your extremities?

My ex had back surgery. Can't move for a month. Can't squat or bend over for a minimum 90 days and you're never the same after. They're after my right knee and hip. I'm just sucking it up rather than be disabled for a year or more.

[Jeff]

I had simple back surgery to place a stimulator in my back, hell when I first got it it felt great. They put the motor behind my left kidney and then put the leads into my spine, seems they had trouble getting into my spine, a 2 hour surgery took 4 hours, and now 2 years later where they cut by my spine hurts more than the original pain most nights.

I pray everything works out great for ya.

[Gunny]

I had simple back surgery to place a stimulator in my back, hell when I first got it it felt great. They put the motor behind my left kidney and then put the leads into my spine, seems they had trouble getting into my spine, a 2 hour surgery took 4 hours, and now 2 years later where they cut by my spine hurts more than the original pain most nights.

I pray everything works out great for ya.

You have a spine? Not what Jim said .....

[PixieStix]

Oh, I am soooo sorry. That can be tough. Are you experiencing any numbness or pain in your extremities?

Oh yes, I do.My entire left side goes into different modes at different times.

You being a nurse (if I remember correctly)know that cervical spinal stenosis is very dangerous if left unchecked. They want to go through the front of my neck and jiggle things around and even put a bone from my hip in there to give my neck stability, or some stuff like that. The problem is, it is not always successful. And many times makes things worse. So I am afraid

I'll either wait till I fall or have some sort of minor accident, to become paralyzed or even worse, or have the surgery , and take upwards of a year to recover, depending on how the surgery went. They say some people have to have it done again.

[PixieStix]

I had simple back surgery to place a stimulator in my back, hell when I first got it it felt great. They put the motor behind my left kidney and then put the leads into my spine, seems they had trouble getting into my spine, a 2 hour surgery took 4 hours, and now 2 years later where they cut by my spine hurts more than the original pain most nights.

I pray everything works out great for ya.

I read recently about one the do in the lumbar spine that they now drill a hole in it. OMG.

I am so sorry for your pain. Prayers for you as well.

Did they call that stimulator a "tens unit"?

[aboutime]

I was diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis, my Dr. thinks I have lumbar stenosis.

It is pretty dangerous, if I don't agree to have surgery.

I have never had major surgery so I am torn.

Pixie. DO IT! Today's surgical methods are amazing, and the pain factor is nearly erased with faster recoup times. I've had 3 spinal operations, now more than 20 years ago...when they weren't as advanced as they are today. I still have stenosis since I had T-1 - T3, and less than a year later L-3 to L-5 compressed discs repaired.

Just think about the decision. Either you stick with the pain forever, or the Docs make you feel like a new person again. They even have Uninvasive Laser surgery now....sometimes...no hospital stay required.

Good Luck.

[jimnyc]

^^^ Couldn't agree more with AT. He knows what he's talking about. There's simply no reason to live in pain these days. Still think about things of course, but today's technology is great. I went in for my spinal surgery on my neck. Arrived at like 5am, was done and WALKING out of there at like 11am. Scary of course, and had to have some recovery and a little pain, but 5 hours and walking out? And after the recovery for the wound, that was it from that disc - pain gone.

[PixieStix]

^^^ Couldn't agree more with AT. He knows what he's talking about. There's simply no reason to live in pain these days. Still think about things of course, but today's technology is great. I went in for my spinal surgery on my neck. Arrived at like 5am, was done and WALKING out of there at like 11am. Scary of course, and had to have some recovery and a little pain, but 5 hours and walking out? And after the recovery for the wound, that was it from that disc - pain gone.

Cervical spinal stenosis? Did you have laser surgery? I am very happy that you are better

[aboutime]

Please click on the link: http://www.spine-health.com/conditio...pinal-stenosis

[Perianne]

Oh yes, I do.My entire left side goes into different modes at different times.

You being a nurse (if I remember correctly)know that cervical spinal stenosis is very dangerous if left unchecked. They want to go through the front of my neck and jiggle things around and even put a bone from my hip in there to give my neck stability, or some stuff like that. The problem is, it is not always successful. And many times makes things worse. So I am afraid

I'll either wait till I fall or have some sort of minor accident, to become paralyzed or even worse, or have the surgery , and take upwards of a year to recover, depending on how the surgery went. They say some people have to have it done again.

It is dangerous if it progresses. I have never worked on a floor where they do such work, though I have cared for patients when it goes wrong .

Everyone here is right; the advances with modern medicine continue to amaze me.

As I have whined on here repeatedly, I woke up with a crick in my neck seven weeks ago. It progressed to a pinched nerve, which is in the same field as what you are suffering with. To be honest, I would rather die than to have continued the way I was. I would have undergone surgery right there on the spot if there was a chance to relieve the pain. Mine did resolve itself after a few weeks, but spinal stenosis will likely not resolve itself.

I don't know what to tell you, sweetie. It is 100% your decision. Physicians have told me that a person knows when it gets bad enough to undergo neurological surgery. I suspect that is the case with you, too. Just know that there is hope. Best wishes.

[PixieStix]

It is dangerous if it progresses. I have never worked on a floor where they do such work, though I have cared for patients when it goes wrong .

Everyone here is right; the advances with modern medicine continue to amaze me.

As I have whined on here repeatedly, I woke up with a crick in my neck seven weeks ago. It progressed to a pinched nerve, which is in the same field as what you are suffering with. To be honest, I would rather die than to have continued the way I was. I would have undergone surgery right there on the spot if there was a chance to relieve the pain. Mine did resolve itself after a few weeks, but spinal stenosis will likely not resolve itself.

I don't know what to tell you, sweetie. It is 100% your decision. Physicians have told me that a person knows when it gets bad enough to undergo neurological surgery. I suspect that is the case with you, too. Just know that there is hope. Best wishes.

So when it goes wrong,how wrong does it go Perianne?

[aboutime]

It is dangerous if it progresses. I have never worked on a floor where they do such work, though I have cared for patients when it goes wrong .

Everyone here is right; the advances with modern medicine continue to amaze me.

As I have whined on here repeatedly, I woke up with a crick in my neck seven weeks ago. It progressed to a pinched nerve, which is in the same field as what you are suffering with. To be honest, I would rather die than to have continued the way I was. I would have undergone surgery right there on the spot if there was a chance to relieve the pain. Mine did resolve itself after a few weeks, but spinal stenosis will likely not resolve itself.

I don't know what to tell you, sweetie. It is 100% your decision. Physicians have told me that a person knows when it gets bad enough to undergo neurological surgery. I suspect that is the case with you, too. Just know that there is hope. Best wishes.

My first spinal surgery was during the First Gulf War, in the Persian Gulf. The pain I had before the surgery was so bad..it hurt to touch the hair on my arm. My entire left side felt like PIN-N-NEEDLES, and I needed help to get out of, and into my rack (navy bed). From my left Big toe, to the hair on my cheek under my left eye hurt. And I do mean Hurt. But they did my first surgery aboard the Hospital Ship Mercy, and it took 3 days before I was able to NOT use a bedpan. But even that was pain because they removed the catheter from my only source of urination (get the picture?).
Gotta say. The surgery was well worth it, and thankfully...I am still around to enjoy all of my grandkids, and my best friend...My Wife.
Please consider what NOT DOING IT will mean. You won't be sorry if you DO IT.

[Perianne]

So when it goes wrong,how wrong does it go Perianne?

Not to be negative, but reality is what it is.

When it goes wrong, there are varying levels of paralysis, pain, and/or infection. And with any surgery, there is a small chance of death.

BUT....

I would not hesitate for long, as the good outweighs the possibly bad probably by a factor of 100 to 1, or more. Thousands of these surgeries are performed every day with very good outcomes. Remember, I only see things when they go wrong. I don't see the patients who are relieved from suffering when things go right. You are more likely to die from a car accident on the way to the hospital than to become paralyzed from the surgery. Your physician will tell you what possibly can go wrong.

Here is wisdom: find someone in the medical field (a nurse) who can guide you as to which surgeon to perform the surgery. It makes a big difference in possible outcomes. I find that many of our patients who have bad outcomes with any type of surgeries all tend to have been operated on by the same crappy surgeons. As with any profession, everyone does not have the same skill.