thoracic spinal stenosis

[tjmaid]

I have been having left flank pain with hip pain/burning and mid back pain for a year now.  I was told in November I had spinal stenosis @ t11-t12.  My latest mri last week was prompted when I started having feelings of difficulty emptying my bladder, intermittent loss of balance, vaginal wall numbness and left buttock/groin/rectal pain and numbness.  The MRI showed worsening stenosis (my spinal cord is no longer trapezoidal but now more flattened).  Yesterday my back was awful with pain from my left ribs down to my foot.  I was scheduled to have surgery Oct 1 2008 for I presume a laminectomy or discectomy and fusion via transthoracic approach - left sided.  Is this the right thing to do?  SHould I look at it being done sooner?  Are the symptoms related to my vaginal wall/buttock are associated with this? I am only 39 years old and cannot afford a lifetime of disabling pain like yesterday.  My kids are still young. I have had physical therapy and injections in the past without relief of symptoms.

[philnoir]

Make sure that you check the date of the post to which you are replying.

tjmaid hasn't been here since 2008.

[Craftyladies]

Wow, so you had the surgery for spinal decompression and are in a lot of pain and you are working as a Nurse?? What pain meds/muscle relaxants are you taking to get you through your day? What type of nursing do you do??? I worked in a hospital setting and beside hospital policy I couldn't possibly work/ focus with the pain and meds in my system. I really want to work and love to say that disability is not option, an obviously disability doesn't want to pay either but my body is autonomous. It's really not about what I want. It's about how I can make it best through a day and maybe since you are working you can share some of your tricks on how you make it possible.

[mandyjane46]

wsow..didnt realise that you had responded until now.Dont know how I missed it.I had surgery T10-11 and T11-12 discectomy for spinl compression . reading your email now I feel comforted as I feel a weakling for not being better quickr..had it on Nov 7th. am having problems right now with some CSF leak and there is still some compression left in.Like you I cant vizualise beinglike this always, Like you I can now lift my feet up prone and walk in a fashion. Also like you i have been left with a numbness...right leg and numb abdomen so bowels are a feat in themselves...at least Im now continent which is great. lost female sensation (pre-op) but maybe in time..as you say it slowly improves week by week...but boy I want it all NOW...i was a really active mom..did loads of sport with my son..still cant drive or walk far without great pain in base of feet and my right leg drags after a while..did you get this?

[tjmaid]

I still can only walk/stand now for about 2-3 hours at a time.  recovery seems to be taking so long but as a nurse in my head I know anything to do with your spinal cord can take months to recover so I know it likely will be  awhile anyway.  But "time" is slow.  I also felt I had no choice but to have operation as I was told that within a year I would be walking with a walker and losing bowel and bladder function at the rate my symptoms were worsening. I did not want this to define my life although it does currently.  I am not sorry that I had the surgery.  Every week has been better than the week before but I am a "now" person and it is long. I can notice a difference and I believe it is better than before but my muscles that were were cut are still healing and I still have pain with that, I fatigue easily, the numbness is bothersome and occasionally slightly painful. I have constant pain at the sight where the actual device was placced and fused, usually just annoying but sometimes worse, i honestly have no idea if that will improve or not- it helps me to do visualization exercises to imagine the device there is a new disc that is allowing my spinal cord to open up.SOme days are really good and some days just aren't and I have to take more meds than I'd prefer, lay down a lot use ice and heat.  I really want to get back to work. I was terrified but also eager for my surgery b/c I was trying to have answers for 15 months as to what could be done to make life less miserable, then things on their own got worse and I developed the cord compression. My son (my 9 yr old) was terrified at the mere prospect of mommy not being able to walk ever again or do the things we love to do ( rock wall climb, ice skate, BMX bike racing, Tae Kwon doe) and I knew I couldn't live like I was declining all the time unable to do the things I once loved to do, so I had the surgery. My mom has been here to help out, thank god. Since you have kids, arrange for help. I think it normal to be scared but I think you obviously need something done to bring you back to some state of normal quality of life. Just know it will take time and some days will be very frustrating.  You will have pain after surgery but hopefully over time it will decrease and you can function bettter.  I still freak out at the idea that this might be the best it gets and I have to work-disability is not a financial option for me and my family- we are paycheck to paycheck, so i have to believe it is going to be better. I am able for the first time in months to lay on my back on the floor and lift my legs off the floor, this is huge to me, so something is improving. I will say it was normal for me too before the surgery to feel like I was whiney and complaining a lot, confused and unsure what to do but knew it could not continue on as it was. It is okay to feel a little sorry for yourself or feel a little depressed, cut yourself some slack, pain is awful and debilitating.  Baby steps I guess...Glad to chat with you MJ.
Kathy

[mandyjane46]

Thanks for taking the time to answer my query and for being so honest.I appreciate it very much.
Your operation sounds more serious than mine...I dont believe Im having a fusion or a titanium implant.I have been warned that I will feelnumb on my right side and that ,due to delay, wil not gain a full recovery, I can only walk short distances badly now and the nerve pain is dreadful so I feel that I have no choise. It would be great to have normal bladder function again . ive had dreadful bowel retention but now used linseed  capsules from the health food store which really help.Nothing else did.  I am really scared if Im honest. Are you glad you agreed to it? I sometimes freak out at the thought of the potential pain but then try to imagine life as I am now and I cant so i just gotta stop being a baby and deal with it.My boy needs the chance of a functioning mum again
Thanks again
MJ

[tjmaid]

I have had my surgery. I had an left anterior discectomy and fusion witha titanium cage and bone grafting so my 10th rib was removed. I had a chest tube for 4 day, both my lungs collapsed after surgery, I have numbness to my left side and abdomen now but the walking balance issues are resolved and the feeling that I wasn't emptying my bladder have resolved as well as the rectal/groin pain. I am unsure about the left flank pain because I am still numb and have incisional pain. Bending over repeatedly is hard and twisting is hard but i am told it can takes months to get back to my previous normal.  I still take pain med a lot and have now been off work for ~ 8 weeks. surgery was 9/8/08. I saw a neursurgeon prior to surgery and he identified my problems with the stenosis and cord compression but told me no neurosurgeon would touch me b/c of vertebral changes and bony defects in area around my spinal cord. My orthapedic surgeon  reports surgery was successful which means the hardware is in place and my cord is decompressing but I know I'll likely have pain forever to some degree from prolonged damage to nerves. I am hopeful though. I am able to walk and drive, I will start therapy soon and hope by Decemeber to go back to work parttime.But I couldn't look at walking with walker forever with 9yr old and 12 yr old at home. I was very active and strong too. Surgery was hard, especially the first 3 weeks post surgery. It still takes an act of god to have  bowel movement b/c I have no muscle tone or strength or control on left abdomen where I am numb, I also cannot cough well, sneezing is hard and so is blowing my nose. It does get better everyday, everyweek. Post op is hard though.  Good luck.

[mandyjane46]

Has anyone had thoracic decompression surgery for a T10-12 prolapse? I am due for this and would very much like to hear experiences..its serious stuff I know..
MJ

[Shammy1]

I agree with Maggie and I am curious if you had your surgery or  not.  The question I have seriously is the most important question you asked was if it was the right thing to do..hey my friend we are lay people sharing and supporting each other your question needs a 2nd or 3rd opinion with another Doctor and one who can see your case.
I feel for you and wish you well, raising kids is hard enough when you are healthy! I hope you have a helpful co-parent (father) to help and that you can call on family and friends to help you heal. Do not hesitate to ask for help!! Get someone in if you can or someone to take the kids for a bit of time; I know that sounds so impractible and maybe impossible but you really need to focus on healing and do not LIFT ANYTHING more than 3 #'s!!
Good Luck and God Bless you and your family.  Hey speaking of God if you go to church call your pastor to get the congregation to help and if you don't go call up some churches  any churches and let  them know what you are going thru and I guaruntee you will get some help and support from food to house kepping to child care!

[mandyjane46]

I noticed you posted a query re T11-12 stenosis in augustd was to have surgery.Are you still on this site? Im due for the same op in 2 weeks...How did it go?
MJ

[LLWB]

If your spinal cord is being compressed, it will do nothing but get worse. All of the symptoms you mention certainly could be caused by this compression, The Thoracic area is a difficult one to have surgery on, make sure you have a good surgeon. PT might help alleviate the symptoms, but they will do nothing to correct the stenosis. Stenosis is caused by bone building up and narrowing the spinal canal. It must be removed to improve your symptoms.I hope your dr is giving you pain meds to help control your pain in the meantime. If not, you need to ask for them. Good luck. As you find out more about what surgery is taking place, please post.

Hugs & Prayers
Maggie