Spinal stenosis?

[hoz53]

None of the responders to the question has mentioned their age at time of surgery. Shooters forum isn't the place to get factual information regarding your question. My mother in law had surgery for spinal stenosis and it sort of worked. She was 84 at the time of the surgery. Get my drift? How many miles do you get on a set of snow tires?

i was thinking about the age thing. Also you heal better the younger you are. And if they have to put you under general anathesia it is riskier the older you are. thise things said they are doing some amazing things for older poeple these days. its where the money is. A big percentage of the medicare cost for most people is in the last 2 years of life. Dr recommended i have arthroscopic surgery on my knee back in late 90s. i didnt do it and now athritis has attacked it and i need knee replacement. Lots of things to consider for sure.

 

[FatBoy]

good point. my first I was 32, my latest at 44.

 

[hoz53]

good point. my first I was 32, my latest at 44.

youre a youngun !

 

[FatBoy]

I'm used up pretty good. Hell Clyde is probably in better shape than me right now.

 

[K22]

I have this condition in my lower lumbar region with chrontic pain but no loss of mobility. Every case is different so there is no general correct answer or approach because every case is different. I was advised by two specialists not to have the surgery because they could not assure that it would improve my condition and it might make it worse.

I tried the spinal injection and it didn't work for me. It made my condition considerably worse for about 3 terrible months. This is rare because it works for most people but this is only a temporary solution.

The one piece of advise I would give you is to see a neuro surgeon not an orthapedic one. Also get a second opinon before you opt for surgery. An Xray and MRI should reveal whether you are a candidate for surgery. Be very cautions of those places that advertise laser surgery. See a specialist before you opt for that treatment option. The specialists I saw would not endorse it but I've heard of people who were helped by it. Just be cautious.

I manage my condition with special exercises, weight control, and limiting activites that make it worse. It isn't pleasant and I have bad days but I've learned to live with it.

 

[GWY]

Robbar;

I've had sciatica/stenosis since my mid 40s. The best relief I got at the time was taking a week's worth of oral steroid (anti-inflammatory) whenever it flared up, usually a couple times a year. This routine keep me away from surgery for several years.

Eventually, the sciatic pain on my left side worsened where I could not walk or stand for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. The oral steroids no longer worked, neither did epidurals, physical therapy, traction, or anything else I tried.

So at age 55, I had a top neurosurgeon evaluate and recommend a laminectomy/fusion in my lower vertebrae.
In my case, surgery has had a very positive outcome and was one of the best decisions I made. I've had only one sciatic flare-up in six years post-surgery that lasted a couple weeks. The quality of life post-surgery vs pre-surgery is dramatic. I can stand or walk a couple hours at a time without any pain.

Shooting wise, I had to work and re-develop my positions (I shot a lot of across-the-course at the time).

Try all options before going to surgery, but I think you'll know when you're ready for it.

Good luck

GWY

 

[GerryM]

It,s the luck of the draw on surgery, I've had 16 hrs worth.
It all depends on your Doc and how successful he is. some are better then others.
It depends on you too , After surgery Physical therapy is a must and doing what the docs prescribe.
It takes time to heal properly, What they are doing is freeing up your spinal cord by removing some bone in your spine .
It a delicate operation that should be done by a neural surgeon,

 

[Shrek]

I’ve had two laminectomys at L5-S1. Both were successful. I had more disk collapse which necessitated the second three years after the first. I’m pain free and it has been 15 years now. A good neurosurgeon is one key and then being very careful on how you lift and move is another. Your back will never be all that durable as you are loosing disk and bone but I don’t have many limitations and I’m completely pain free. Don’t let an orthopedic surgeon near your back. As my neurologist said to me “ your bones might be grinding against each other but if there are no nerves involved it doesn’t hurt a bit”.

 

[FatBoy]

my surgeon is an ortho surgeon. I went to a couple other doctors for a second opinions. They all knew each other by first name. You want a real second opinion you may need to go to another state.

 

[snakepit]

I had the surgery 9 years ago. Had 2 channels in the vertebrae opened up in the lower back to get pressure off the nerve. The incision was maybe 2 inches.
I got out of the OR in the late afternoon and they decided to keep an eye on me over night. Primarily, the reason was that I had to urinate before leaving the hospital. When I got to my room for the night, the staff was trying to do the sheet slide thing to get me into bed. I stopped them and asked if it was ok to set up and get in the bed myself and they agreed, so I got up and put myself in bed.
About 3 AM, I woke up to use the facilities and afterward, walked to the nurses station and asked if they had coffee made. Since I had recently visited that nurses station a few weeks earlier and she recognized me, I was told that I was free to make coffee myself.
The doctor gave me prescriptions for pain killers and muscle relaxers ahead of time, but I never took any of them.
I wasn't allowed to drive for a week or so, but that was about it. I was gone from the hospital by 10 AM the day after the surgery.
The technology has come a long way since then and I would not be concerned about doing it again. The ability to install a replacement disc in the spine is there and is being done. A pilot friend of mine had a disc replaced in his neck because one of his arms would go numb. He said that the surgery was a total "non event" to him.
Wherever and whoever does the surgery, check them out, then check them out again. Talk to people that doctor has worked on, and get their feedback.
We are lucky to have some of the best medical facilities in the world here in Houston.

One thing for sure the surgery did not affect his shooting, he is still one of the best in our shooting club.

 

[butchlambert]

I was about 60 for my first and 65 for my last.
Still no pain.

 

[Toolbreaker]

Went in for mine right before turning 27. 17+ years later, still clicking right along.

 

[KMart]

I was 60 for mine

 

[snert]

collapsed s1/l5, fusion, laminectomy one disc above it. Back pain from gun belt/vest and abuse for years before I chased some little twerp with a shotgun down a highway embankment, across a pasture and into the woods. Caught the little turd, but when I was done i couldn't walk. Tried the shots, tried the chiro, tried prayer, tried anything but the knife. Finally had it cause the next answer was opiods.

I am glad I did it, but my career is over. I hurt all the time, but no one can tell me why. Some say it is adrenaline burn-out, imprinting pain. Others say it could be back pain. Others say endocrine. I say it sucks. I know it is real cause I can be fine one day, puking my brains out the next, laying on an ice pack for 24 hours trying to get it settled down, eating hydrocodone like candy.

I have great times, but two weeks in bed is only a heartbeat away and I never know what causes it. I tighten up, hurt like mad, till I puke, and my entire back swells/inflames. Xrays etc show a good fusion, etc etc.

Changing out a disc is not like boring a Chevy .030 over and running a new piston. Sometimes it works great. Other times, well, you just don't know. My only solace is knowing I had no options. I was 50... 54 now

 

[nakneker]

Spinal Stenois can be a scary thing. In 2016 I was misdiagnosed with spinal stenois, when I got the call I immediately started researching what it was. During that time I learned that a close friend had been diagnosed with it a year earlier and had been very successful in dealing with it. He ended up going to a place in Dallas Texas. They operated for spinal stenois, floating bone fragments and some herniatations. Three months later he was playing racketball again and has been pain free for 4 years now. He will have to have a follow up surgery in another 4-5 years has the vertebrate continue to shrink.

I ended up with a severe herniated disc, second worst my Doc had seen in 28 years. The worst was Steve McNair the quarterback who he fixed up nicely, sad ending for Steve though as far as his lifestyle. My operation has had some ups and downs but continues to improve.

My friend is happy to talk to others about where he went, his Doc and the Institute. If your interested PM me and I’ll put you in touch. Almost all spinal specialist will look at your MRI and give you a free diagnosis. In my case I learned the first opinion was completely wrong. It pays to do your research.

Spinal steroid therapy gave me huge relief and got me out of the wheel chair until surgery. Do your research! Let me know if I can help, I’m more than happy to talk with you.

 

[lpreddick]

One therapy I never believed would work is acupuncture. I'v read about it and still don't understand how it works. The Chinese do major surgery with nothing else. I have friends who doubted it but now are pain free. I don't think it can improve all conditions, but you lose nothing by trying. If my symptoms start back, I will give this a try before another injection.

 

[FatBoy]

One therapy I never believed would work is acupuncture. I'v read about it and still don't understand how it works. The Chinese do major surgery with nothing else. I have friends who doubted it but now are pain free. I don't think it can improve all conditions, but you lose nothing by trying. If my symptoms start back, I will give this a try before another injection.

Though they don't call it acupuncture, some physicsl therapists use a version of it to release trigger points and help you relax and remove pressures. They call it dry needling. Apparently it works. I haven't had it done.

 

[rjtfroggy]

In 1988 I had my first spine surgery ( lumbar) 36 years old now at age 65 I have had 8 of them, the last 2 years ago, and now I have 10 screws, 2 rods and one side support plate, fused from L3-S1. The pain never goes away, I have tried injections, acupuncture, all kinds of therapies, orthos and neuros.
Now they say I have a herniated C5- C6 with a few smaller bulges.
You want an experienced suggestion hold off as long as possible and then a little longer. when you are at the point that you want your doctor to do it in the office with a butter knife that is about the time to proceed.

 

[Geno C]

Though they don't call it acupuncture, some physicsl therapists use a version of it to release trigger points and help you relax and remove pressures. They call it dry needling. Apparently it works. I haven't had it done.

My father in law is a big man and has lived a hard physical life. Took a bad fall one night and messed his shoulder up bad. To the point that he put the vehicles in park with his left hand. 2 drs said rotator cuff surgery. That ain't happening in the spring/summer in our line of work. He tried all kinds of things until his wife talked him into drw needling. One session and he felt a ton better. After the 3rd, pain free and almost 100% movement. Not sure how it works but it did for him.

I'm tempted to try it for my herniated disks by my L5 but steroid shot has bought me a little more time.