Could I have Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?

Just read some of your replies, the ones from uk are spot on, don't take no for an answer, I've had decompression surgery 8 weeks ago , the pain is worse now, than it ever was, had 2 no mri scan two weeks ago, awaiting results, I cannot sit down, drive, or work, walking is painful , and I have to stop, every 200 yds or so, only relief is laying on my back, I'm 58, and not ready to throw the towel in yet, 

try to stretch often, try not to get hooked on some of the painkillers.

keep shouting, don't be fobbed off, as I have been at times. 

Good luck.

Yea fobbed off means basically 'take the meds and bugger off' haha. I seem to be ignored a lot. I found getting out of the bath and getting dressed difficult when I had bad hips when I was pregnant

Hi I had a fusion after 18 months of going docs who said I had.... depression and need a holiday had two .......still arms tingling ........,,....numbness and pain I had to beg for a mri scan I had...........,, herniated disc........ the fatigue as gone now a year on still got.... pins..and needles though less than it was I don't walk well I go .....for my year check up in march to see if fusion as worked ,,I'm in..uk hope you get sorted. .

Hi Kelly, Iv just joined this forum and I have to say your symptoms were the same as mine. It started in February 2015 with left inner knee pain. The pain then became like sciatica all down my left buttock and leg. Then it traveled to my left foot. It became impossible to walk any distance and the only way I could alleviate the pain was to sit down. In all this time I'd been visiting my GP and reporting my symptoms. It was diagnosed as sciatica. I went on holiday in June and I might as well as been in a wheelchair. The pain was horrendous. By now my toes were going numb too. Back home I went to my GP and passionately told him my experience. I said on the scale of 1 to 10 my pain was 9. That's when i was put on the list for appointment with the muskelo skeleton dept. (M.S dept)He then put me on the list for an MRI that happened in October. outcome was I had SPINAL STENOSES. With the only option was surgery. There was a 4 to 6 month waiting list. I was told by the physio, that if I lost control of my bladder or bowels to go straight to A&E

well on Sun the 6th Dec it happened. I had a bowl movement I wasn't aware of. My bottom was numb and I had no sensation down below. That I was told was a red flag warning and I needed my operation imediately. Outcome was I jumped the queue, I was admitted on the 7th, and my operation took place on 9th December. I hope my story helps you Kelly. If this resonates with you. You need to go to your Gp and tell him you want a referral to the   M S dept. The operation took my pain in walking away, but I've been left with a very fragile back. I'm hoping in time it will get stronger, but for now I have to mind what I do. 

 

Hi Kelly,

iv sent you a long message, but here is some more information for you.

The difference between Sciatica and spinal stenoses is

for S you can't sit down and for SS you GOT TO sit down to alieviatevthe symptoms and pain. Tell your GP that and if he's got any sense will recognise you do not have sciatica.

Thanks everyone. My symptoms have got worse along with a barrel full of new ones so I'm being sent for MRI scan