Comments on: Spinal Stenosis and Fusion Surgery

By: Guy R. Bateman

Guy R. Bateman — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:49:09 +0000

I am a 74 yr old ex runner with a knee (actually spinal stenosis) problem. After 34 yrs of running long distances (5K to marathons) on hard pavement I was forced to quit three years ago because of the pain of osteoarthritis in my right knee and left ankle.
I went for knee replacement surgery two years ago which resulted with a burning sensation that persists to this day. My surgeon, in desperation, decided to examine my back and after several tests I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis plus severe scoliosis in the lumbar region of my spine. My surgeon says that the nerves going through my spine and down my leg is interfering with the healing of my knee.
This burning pain, BTW, is keeping me from walking more than a half hour at a time, which is bad because hiking for mid to long distances has been my first love ever since I became a hiker at age 11.
My surgeon says he can ‘probably’ (no guarantee ‘tho) ‘fix’ my problem with back surgery. I’ve always been very leery of any kind of back (spinal) surgery, so let me ask you if surgery would be a worthwhile risk for me to take. I can walk around for a few minutes at a time only with the aids of Capzacin and constant icing, but I’m really longing to get back to my hikes in the woods, fields, and mountains.
Any suggestions?
I am hearing impaired, so my best form of communication is by emailing.

By: Prospero

Prospero — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:27:00 +0000

I have been told I have cervical stenosis and need an urgent operation. My symptoms are pain and tingling in my hands and arms, all the time and now marked weakness on my left side. I have also got a disc bulge that is pressing on the cord. It is suggested that I have the disc removed all the associated holes widened and a plate and screws put in. I would really like not to have this done, but am now 3 years on from that diagnosis with no real relief. I have some of your heal and soothe coming and would like to know of anyone out there with similar experience who could suggest if it is worth doing this procedure. Bottom line is I am afraid and would dearly love someone to say you don’t need this but so far everyone who has seen me has said I need this. Even the muscle rebalance chap I’ve been seeing lately. Thanks

By: malcolm scarce

malcolm scarce — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:00:27 +0000

dear jesse,
thank you for your information on the computer…i have not written to you before….
but at this stage i am reading your info with interest…i am having back treatment in Australia
(disc,s) (stenosis) (sciatica)
Bl….dy LOW back pain have had 12 months of injections etc. etc.
my local G.P. has now switched to trigger point and acapuncture method …..and physio. hydro.gym. etc etc . please leave me on you,r mailing list kind regards
malcolm scarce

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 26 May 2010 22:53:59 +0000

Joy, I do use chiropractic, however I have noticed that if I do not feel noticable improvement after 2 or 3 visits then it usually does not help with the particular problem.

By: Joy Sweigart

Joy Sweigart — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:48:35 +0000

I am seeing a chiropractor once a week for seven weeks. I have felt little improvrment . How many sessions does it take to really see improvement?

By: Nanaimo Chiropractor

Nanaimo Chiropractor — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:28:50 +0000

Great article. Always best to try the more conservative approach to spinal problems than to just at the knife. There are often secondary problems down the road after spinal surgeries, and also complications from the sugeries. Great blog!

By: peter j

peter j — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:23:17 +0000

hi joanna , if i understand correctly you are thinking that the shoes you where wearing caused a sciatic nerve problem , this is not so , sciatic nerve problem comes from a herniated or bulgeing disc in the lower back pressing on the spinal nerve ,the shoes only aggravated this previous condition , the sciatic pain can only be relieved by spinal decompression ie; time on a inversion table or on a nubax or similar stretches in conjunction with anti inflammitory medication , natural or prescribed , once you have relieved the pressure on the sciatic nerve only then will the trigger point therapy and massage work in resetting the muscles that have been upset , a bit like step 1 and step 2 , you must do one before the other , this is my experience , hope it helps you
ps please be carefull if your feet are tingling or getting pins and needles this means it is quite serious and you are on the verge of doing some serious damage to your lower back , you need to be very carefull in your daily life not to lift any thing at all or sit with poor posture , and especially not to work bent over slightly or leaning forward , this is the worst possible position for you lower back , tingling feet is a big warning sign to be very carefull not to over do it
believe me , the pain will only get much worse if you don’t take some action and make some changes straight away

By: joanna lucarino

joanna lucarino — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:03:47 +0000

i used the fenix trigger point self-care system for the first time for a sciatic nerve problem i had been experiencing for a couple weeks which i relate to wearing a pair of earth shoes an entire workday (i am a licensed massage therapist). i had a therapist work on trigger points manually but to no relief so i decided to try myself. the system offered relief from upper thigh and glute pain but seemed to “push” the pain into my entire knee which even swelled up a bit and then i felt a burning tinglind in my entire foot. did i use the system improperly?