I need a break.....

[Debpec]

I am a 48 year old woman and have had two spinal surgeries..both in my 20's.  The first one was a procedure to disolve the disc..called chemo something...which I was later told after an MRI had caused a lot of nerve damage.  The 2nd I had two levels fused.  Prior to my second operation, my doctor had mentioned doing a surgery to create decompression due to spinal stenosis.  In recent MRI's I've done, I've read that there is severe stenosis and I was wondering if that could be the cause of my constant daily pain.  My left upper leg has been numb for several years now with the inner part of it extremely hypersensitive to touch, or cold, clothing or anything.  It also recently seems to be moving down...the feeling of weakness and tingling.  I have severe pain in my back for example after about 5 minutes of shopping, but try not to let it stop me..usually have to sit down every 10 minutes or so.  I can't carry anything, even a purse or coat adds to the pain.  Also have a problem when I have been sitting in the car for example driving, get up to walk and have to find something to hold onto for roughly one minute untill the feeling of a painfull extreme weakness subsides.  Remember having that very seldom in my 20's, but it seems to be happening more often the past couple of years or so.  I am a pretty active person..and I try not to let these problems tie me down, been dealing with chronic back pain for so long I don't know what it's like to be without it.  But it is getting worse and worse and I am getting afraid of where I will be in a few years down the road or as I get older.  I plan on getting another MRI done in the next little while privately, but I don't know where I'm going to go with it.  My surgeon has moved out of the country and there simply aren't any specialists available here.  I had a referral for two doctors, both of which are not taking on any new patients, not for a few years.  I've looked into the laser institute in tampa which sounds very interesting, but also costly.  I know that I have degerative back disease and I guess what I want to know is if I can expect things to get a lot worse than they are right now.  Could all of what I'm experiencing be related to the stenosis?  I would appreciate and be very thankful for any information or suggestions regarding my problem.  I would love to know a life without pain and medication.

[Teck]

Yes your back can continue to get worse. Yes the longer you wait - the more damage to the nerves.  I would seek a neurosurgeon or orthopedic that specializes in backs.  Have you told your family Dr. that the specialist that he/she referred you to doesn't take new patients at this time?  I would definitely call your family Dr. and ask for another referral.  The other thing, if your insurance does not limit you to state boundries, shop around, see what your options are.  It may take some leg work, but it is worth the time and trouble.

The other thing. If you can't remember the last time you were out of pain, you have been suffering way too long.  Life is too short to be in so much pain all the time.  When you can't do the little things in life, you need to do something about your pain.  Yes, picking up a small purse or jacket is considered the little things in life.  I know that if I couldn't pick up my grandbabies, I would just die.  

Good luck and I will keep track of you on this forum.  God Bless You.

[Joface]

I totally understand....I live in Minneapolis/St. Paul and we have numerous physicians here (including a husband/wife team who are both neurosurgeons....who received their training in Toronto. Apparently, it is more lucrative for them to practice in the states.  Could you go to Boston, perhaps? Good luck to you whatever you decide!  Jo

[Debpec]

Thanks so much for taking the time to write, I appreciate your advice.  When I say that I can't get a doctor here, I am talking about Montreal, Canada.  Thanks again and happy new year

[Joface]

If you have severe stenosis, it could be compromising the nerves in your back and be causing numbness, tingling, burning - all the things you mentioned - but your doctor will need to determine what course of action to take.  When you say there are no specialists available "here"......where are you located?  You mentioned Tampa, so are you in Florida?  There is always the Mayo Clinic down there as an option.  When I had my spinal compression problem, I was told that the longer the nerves were compromised, the greater the chance would be that feeling would not return.  I have no idea if that is true in all cases - or even in yours - but I wouldn't wait an additional number of years to investigate it further.  Good luck to you! Jo