Spinal stenosis and sciatica

[Cutie2001]

I have spinal stenosis (L4 and L5) and sciatica. I have pain on both ankles, legs and all the way up to my glute and lower back. I go to Chiropractor 2x a week but I can’t seem to get rid of the pain. Would like to know if anyone has similar issues and if you have any luck treating this type of pain. Thank you

[bassofspades]

Hello friend! I have been through this and I'd like to help save you from unnecessary suffering! I had spinal stenosis at levels L2-3 and L3-4 with all the radiating leg, buttock pain that goes along with it. I was advised to have surgery but was afraid and opted to try everything else first. Chiropractors, acupuncture, physical therapy, inversion table, losing weight, strengthening my core...you name it! I put it off for 7 years with no relief and it only getting worse and worse. I finally had no other options but surgery. After the surgery, I could have kicked myself for waiting so long to get it done! It was a night and day difference. The pain was gone and I could walk smoothly again.

Recently, I got it again at level L4-5 and this time it was just as bad, but I went and had the surgery straight away. Again, the pain is gone and I am 10 weeks post op and walking a mile a day several days a week.

Good luck! Hope my story helps you figure out what to do. If you want my opinion, save yourself time, money and misery and just have the surgery. (Laminectomy and Diskectomy)

[Cutie2001 in reply to bassofspades]

Thank you ! I’ll look into it !

[Cutie2001 in reply to bassofspades]

May I ask how long was the recovery and were you able to walk after the surgery right away? Was the surgery done by an Orthopedic surgeon or Neurosurgeon? I appreciate any info you could give me. Thanks

[bassofspades in reply to Cutie2001]

Either kind of surgeon would be fine as long as they have experience in that area. They get you walking right away. Full recovery in 6 to 8 weeks!

[bassofspades in reply to Cutie2001]

I only took pain meds for a few days after surgery

[Sonshineman1 in reply to bassofspades]

May I ask where you had your surgery?

[bassofspades in reply to Sonshineman1]

Advent Health Daytona Beach Florida USA

[Ep0522 in reply to bassofspades]

was wondering if you ever tried prednisone? GP has me trying it, and seems to affect my Parkinson’s symptoms pretty bad.

[bassofspades in reply to Ep0522]

Me? Yes I have had Prednisone on a few occasions. Made me feel great but long term can do more harm than good.

[park_bear]

Do you know whether your stenosis is due to disk troubles or bone spurs? I had sciatica due to intervertebral disc problems and it is in remission now. I attribute my recovery to fish oil via daily salmon consumption. I wrote about the evidence here: tinyurl.com/27b3ahw7

[Cutie2001 in reply to park_bear]

I don’t know but I can ask my Orthopaedic doctor. Thanks

[MBAnderson]

I had pain down my legs from spinal stenosis and had a Laminectomy at L-5 at the VA this past Jan which resolved the problem.

[glenandgerry]

My husband has exactly the same type of pain you describe Cutie2001

So many PWP seem to have this pain but I am not sure why

Glad to hear your surgeries solved your pain issues Marc and Bass.Unfortunately for my HWP, he had a laminectomy and a discectomy 2 years ago on the NHS here in the UK which didn't work. If anything, it made the pain worse as he was left with scar tissue. He was then referred to the Pain Management Team. After trying just about every pain medication known, non of which relieved his pain, (and made him feel awful) the specialists said there's nothing more they can do for him. He is on Fentenyl patches to which I am sure he has become addicted, and just has to deal with the pain every day.

[Cutie2001 in reply to glenandgerry]

So sorry to hear about your husband. I know the feelings

[park_bear in reply to glenandgerry]

>So many PWP seem to have this

I believe it is due to the tendency to bend forward at the waist which puts excess strain on the lower back

[Jana86]

I also have disintegrating discs in several areas of my spine...lower and mid back, neck. I have been told that the problem isn't severe enough for surgery so may be at a different stage than your issues. I have found acupuncture, a zero gravity bed, and bone broth and added collegen sufficient to manage the pain. If I overstress my back (mostly gardening), I will take a single Aleve.

[justhavefun2]

Hi there! I am so sorry to hear about your suffering. I don't think the spinal stenosis/sciatica I have experienced is as severe as yours. The local pain clinic did steriod injections on both sides in the sciatic joint. I also had a prescription for Gabapentin and I did some physical therapy (stretching). My husband and I ended up buying a Sleep Number bed (because our traditional mattress was 20 years old) which I keep at "90" (very firm!) and, thanks be to God, I am off the Gabapentin and haven't been back for a shot in about 11.5 months. I still have a bit of pain, but I am able to work, go to the pool and walk about 3-4 blocks before I need to give my back a break. I hope you are able to get some relief soon!! Sending you a virtual get well hug...

[Cutie2001 in reply to justhavefun2]

Thank you !!

[rebtar]

i have lumbar spinal stenosis, i was told it was “severe”. Based on MRI.

I did the cire exercises in a book calked the Back Mechanic, Stuart McGill, much better after a couple of weeks. As long as i keep up the exercises, my vack is 90% OK.

That said, each case is different. The first doc who looked at my MRl said i definitely beed surgery, but the neurosurgeon said to do PT first and syrgery as a last resort. For now, thus is working for me.

[Cutie2001 in reply to rebtar]

Thanks! I’m doing stretching exercises, Chiropractors 2x a week, PT also LSVT for PD but will definitely try your exercise too.

[rebtar in reply to Cutie2001]

stretching made mine worse. Core strengthening was what helped.

[rebtar in reply to Cutie2001]

McGill method

[CRMACK1948]

Every time I read these posts I marvel at how brave and positive so many of you are in the face of much worse PD symptoms than my husband has.Thank you for such a good example of how to face challenges in the face of inadequate medical understanding and treatment.I found reading about PEA supplements when having to deal with chronic pain very interesting,though there are some areas it doesn’t seem to help.

[justhavefun2 in reply to CRMACK1948]

Huh! I have been taking PEA since my diagnosis in 2018, but it was given to me by my then Functional Medicine Neurologist as a long list of supplements she was recommending to keep me as healthy as possible. I just took it on faith and never knew what it was for, so I am so happy you mentioned it! Possibly, that is playing a part in keeping me moving with reduced pain. Love it! The company that manufactures my PEA, Vitalitus, sent me samples of Anandaplus 700 mg. It is also supposed to help with pain, but, personally, it didn't do much for me, but maybe it would help others. It would seem that we all have our issues and it's important to find "work arounds" as best as we can so we can continue to live some kind of quality of life especially as we age and in light of a PD diagnosis.

[CRMACK1948 in reply to justhavefun2]

You might be interested to read up a bit about PEA,although originally used to be a non addictive pain controller,an Italian study a few years ago on Parkinsons patients showed that it can have a positive effect on your brain cells,and delay Parkinson’s progression.My husband has no pain issues,but Since taking PEA has seen some improvements in his condition,so for you it might be doing a two fold job! That’s great,so glad to hear it

[Hilo64]

I was suffering from sciatica for a couple of months on my left side last year. I found relief by going to a chiropractor. It took about 10 visits over the course of a month but eventually the pain was gone.

[Cutie2001 in reply to Hilo64]

I go to my Chiro 2x a week for the last 3 years. What kind of adjustments did you get from your Chiro may I ask ? Thanks

[House2 in reply to Cutie2001]

This is what fixed my stenosis.

youtu.be/sqgNZj25bUk(Not working as expected?)

[Hilo64]

This was my typical routine. I'd arrive at the chiro and his assistant had me lie down on this traction table and place a heated pad under my back. I would lie there for about 15 to 20 minutes. Then I would walk over to chiro office and he would have me lie down , arms crossed and he grab my back and crack it a couple of times. He also gave me a set of exercises to do at home twice a day.

[Cutie2001 in reply to Hilo64]

That’s exactly what I’m doing. I also go to PT 2x a week. So far I am getting temporary relief but it doesn’t last long. I also stretch and exercise through out the day and using heat pads to get rid of the pain. I wish I could be pain free permanently