What can be done for Spinal Stenosis in L50S1

[minughman]

I've been having severe lower back pain for some months now.  The last couple of months my left thigh has been going numb whenever I stand for more than 10 minutes and at night when I'm sleeping .  It wakes me up 3-4 times nightly, totally numb and burning like someone's holding a torch to it.  I've also developed severe pain behind my knee when I get up from a sitting position and start walking. The pain is intense and feels like I tore a ligament back there or something. My doctor ordered an MRI on my back and knee.  The radiologist said my lower back had "Mild degenerative changes in the lower lumbar spine resulting in mild foraminal stenosis at L5-S1.  I love how he used the word mild twice but yet it sure as hell doesn't feel mild to me. My knee results were totally normal. I can barely walk and havent slept over 4 hours in a night for weeks.  In my research on this, it sounds like the spinal stenosis had squeezed a nerve in my back that is causing the severe numbness, burning and pain in the back of my knee when I walk.  Can steriod injections or physical therapy help?  i know the injections will only mask the pain temporarily so is surgery my only option to fix this miserable problem.  My last question is should I ask my general doctor to put in a consult to a neurosurgeon or what?  sorry for rambling but I'd really like to know what my options are here.  I do know I can't put up with this pain much longer.  Thanks for any advice you can give me.


This discussion is related to Degenerative Disc Disease Surgery options.

[Bonzai]

If you need a blood transfusion with this procedure protect yourself and stockpile your own blood. You don't need a disease to further complicate your health.

[minughman]

I'm scheduled to have a Lumbar Laminectomy with instruments on 30 July 10 and was interested in hearing from anyone who's recently gone through the surgery.  I have two disks that are in an advanced degenerative state and need to be fused. I'm basically grinding bone on bone and am miserable right now so it definitely needs to happen.  I looked the procedure up online and it looks brutal to say the least.  They're planning on taking a piece of my hip to help with the fusion and I know that's probably going to hurt worse than anything.  Can anyone tell me what i can do to prepare for it both pre and post surgery.  Obviously I'm getting anxious about it because I know I'm going to be in a lot of pain for the first few weeks for sure.  I'd just like to know what your experiences were like both good and bad.  Thanks!!

[Dr Vinod]

Yes surgery is the last option. Ergonomics and position while sitting, working and sleeping is very important. Wear proper footwear and change to proper positions and a simple correction in lifestlye will also help. Discuss about all the options of Physical therapy, which varies from case to case near your neurologist. Take care!

[minughman]

Thank you sir, for your advice.  I'm scheduled to have some epidural injections done in my lower back to see if that will take care of the pain for now.  I agree that conservative treatments would be best at this point.  I know once they start cutting on you it can cause new problems just from the surgery.  Thanks again sir!

[Dr Vinod]

Confirm whatever the radiologist has told near a neurologist and go for conservative treatment near a neurologist. If it does not help then visit a neurosurgeon for the surgery. Remember the brain and spinal cord are in a place where a small lesion may cause gross symptoms. Take care and take some symptomatic relief in pain killers.