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facing surgery, any one with a simlar condition?

Posted , 5 users are following.

alaya48751
alaya48751

Hi I have multilevel stenosis of the lumber and cervicle spine, my bones are crumbling in both of these areas, moderate osteo in the neck and severe in the lumber, I have eight benign growths on my spine (Imangenomas) i think ive spelt it wrong !! and scoliosis in the lumber too, I am House bound as i cannot walk very far atall, and i am seeing a surgeon on the 11th has any one else had surgery, with similar prblems to my own, and did they fix it ?? please take the time to reply to me as im afraid that it will worsen the condition.

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • Lynn195013
    Lynn195013 alaya48751

    Posted

    So sorry to hear of you problrm, I have stenosis and arthritis of my spine bot lumbar and cervical, it is very very painful, I hope someone comes along with some answers for you. 
  • joycemadine
    joycemadine alaya48751

    Posted

    Hi I am sorry you are suffering with so much ...I have had 4 surgeries on my lumber spine for crumbling bones and fractures... (I have rheumatoid arthritis )..I am stil not to good and it has been about 6 month since my last surgery a  spinal fusion and rods and pins put in .I do hope your surgeon can help you x
  • patricia4866
    patricia4866 alaya48751

    Posted

    Hi Alaya. We've spoken before. I have has spinal stenosis of C3-C7 that

    began at C3-C4 at 32 yrs old due to a traffic accident. I just turned 67. I refused surgery and eventually the pinched nerve "accomodated" for the

    lack of space and I continued to function in bedside nursing. In '13 I began having low back pain for the first time. An MRI showed Arthritis throughout my spine and lumbar stenosis. They sent me to PT which really

    didn't help as much as the 600mg I took of Ibuprophen every 6-8 hrs.

    Within 7 months I developed a prolapsed disc at L4-L5. I was miserable, unable to work so I retired and agreed to have surgery. It took 6 months to get me scheduled and I had the surgery 11/11/14. I rolled out of the Recovery Room with a huge smile on my face. The relief ffom pain was

    immediate! when I asked him at my follow up appt, he said that the

    lower back aches and causes eventual cord compression but that the

    pain was relieved as soon as the disc was removed. I was one of the fortunate ones. From all that I read on these forums, lots of you haven't

    faired as well And my heart goes out to you. I give thanks for the Neuro and Ortho advances they have made here in the States and that I was a Nurse who knew the correct answers. The last one asked? Was I ready to give up being stubborn so I could get my life back. On the 11th, I am 4 months post-op and almost back to normal. I need to join the YMCA so I

    can swim as suggested by th NS. Let me know how things go next week.

    Best wishes.

    Patricia

    • alaya48751
      alaya48751 patricia4866

      Posted

      Hi patricia

      wow that is encouraging to know, I have been a bit stubborn myself always thinking that my yoga could stop this from happening indefinantly, but like clockwork the predictions of the specilist twenty years ago has all now happened. he told me my problem was too severe to operate on but my sister has seen a surgeon and can now walk, so i am hopeful . i hope that I can be like you patricia, i will let you know what the surgeon tells me on the 11th, kind wishes alaya

  • alaya48751
    alaya48751

    Posted

    thank you lynn and joyce for your kind words, I fell from a third story window in london when i was 18, onto a spine that already had scoliosis I have practiced youga for nearly 27 years to keep this problem supported by my muscles but last april i tore very badly the muscle that is connected at the rib to the pelvis, and was unable to do my yoga for three months, my back collapsed and i was bed ridden, now house bound and walking very tentitively around the house, sometimes im bent over and forward to the left side for days, if i take 100 mg of amitriptoline i can get myself upright, but then in a day or so it happens again, and then i cant move, does this happen to you lyn and joyce, its just so nice to connect with others that have the same problem, how do you cope? I hate taking the meds they make me feel like emotionally spun out, what meds are you guys on how do they  make you feel are you going to have surgery lyn, Joyce it sounds like your surgery has not helped, do you walk, could you walk before the surgery? kind wishes alaya
  • patricia4866
    patricia4866 alaya48751

    Posted

    That was supposed to have read as stenosis causes the ache but in my case the disc prolapse caused the bilateral sciatic nerve pain (six of one half dozen of the other) but the stenosis was also encroaching upon the spinal cord (cord compression) and I could refuse surgery if I chose to

    but would be in a wheelchair unable to walk if I did. I had already begun

    falling. One minute I would be fine and the next I am starring at the floor.

    Patricia

    • alaya48751
      alaya48751 patricia4866

      Posted

      Hi patricia,

      yes my doctor has infprmed me that there is a narrowing occuring in my spinal column, my sciatic nerve and other nerves are pinched at the roots, my left leg is most effected and sometimes feels like i will loose the use of it, i find myself bent over and forward to the left, when i walk im hunched over to the left, i was told by a spcecialist that i would be in a wheelchair at 45 im 48, I have had one fall so far , do you think the fall is due to the sciatic nerve?

    • patricia4866
      patricia4866 alaya48751

      Posted

      Alaya Hi. Yes, if you have stenosis that is progressing.

      And have begun falling, that sounds like a Sp Cord Compression. My NS was just giving me options when he said that I could have surgery now before any more damage was done to the

      Sciatic Nerves or I could end up spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair. You see, the longer the nerves are compressed the more chance there is for them to die. That is why we suffer such terrible pain. ....the neural pathways are interrupted by the

      compression. It's a long story.

      Alaya, I'm not really sure how to compare medical practices between the UK and the States. I remember that you mentioned that

      the bones in the lumbar region are "crumbling". I believe that

      sounds like damage from Arthritis. In the States they run into this problem alot...in shoulders, in hips, and in knees mostly.

      Orthopedic Surgeons that specialize in resurfacing

      and/or replacement are very proficient in their skill. And I am

      certain that this must be so in the UK also. As I see it, whomever it is that you will be seeing the 11th...tell them that your pain is constant and has become unbearable, and that you have been falling. You will probably be asked to stand up and take a step or

      two to see if you walk bent forward. Then tell them that you

      request surgery ASAP. They will find someone experienced with resurfacing the spine so a Laminectomy and fusion can be done.

      And if this surgeon is worth his weight, he will fix your

      Scoliosis while he has you in the OR. Huge undertaking....very

      long surgery.....Ortho surgeon or Neuro, maybe both. Please

      keep me in the loop and I wish you well.

      Patricia

    • alaya48751
      alaya48751 patricia4866

      Posted

      Hi Patricia

      thank you for taking the time to write to me, yes my MRI states that I have severe degenerative  spondulatic change to my lumber and moderate in the cerviacle (osteo arthritis) I do walk bent forward, and hunched to my left, I have a hunch that it will take more than one op, only two days to go before i find out, thank you for your support .

      kind wishes,

      Alaya

  • hullasmehta
    hullasmehta alaya48751

    Posted

    Hi i m at london. I m in Sam bot like u.neck 2/7 damage. Lumbar L4/5 with calcification problem. With type 1 diabetes and heart condition at London no Dr.widh to oprate on me. Only day by day more disability having. I m 54 yet. So please let me know how u get on as might your Dr. Will help. Operation can make paralises to keep in mind as long operation at list 6/10hrs in your n my case.70% not successful. Sorry can live with pain not with paralises so think. I m not Dr but I have ask many Dr. Hope u get well good luck mehta
    • alaya48751
      alaya48751 hullasmehta

      Posted

      thank you Hullasmehta for your kind words, i will let you know what the doctor tells me on the 11th, i am thinking on the same lines as you that its probably inoperable due to the risk of paralysis , but lets see , i will make sure i ask what the success rate is before i go ahead with anything. im sorry that you have all of these problems too, how do you cope? kindly alaya .
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