Possible Outcome of Severe Spinal Stenosis

[Davewm]

I had a Laminectomy for Severe Spinal Stenosis which initially worked but has now failed and is worse than before. I had a Triple Bypass and Mitral Valve Repair and have now been diagnosed with heart failure so I’m not able to take any of the normal pain relief medication. 

I was referred to the Pain Management Specialist. I’ve now had 3 lots of 6 Facet Joint Injections without any relief.

The Consultant has now suggested possible Spinal Cord Stimulation.

I’m very concerned as to whether this is the right path to go down.

As anyone had experience of this?

My overriding concern now is that I’m now getting permanent “tingling” in my legs!

This may sound very dramatic but if I don’t try this procedure is it inevitable that I could end up in a wheelchair?

I’m now in a lot of pain and not able to walk very far. Does this stay as it now is or does it usually degenerate?

I’m really anxious about the future so any help/advice would be welcome.

Thanks!

[Geripop]

Sadly with disc degeneration it will only get worse. Spinal stenosis by its very nature is something pushing on the spinal cord hence causing the nerve pain.

The tingling in your legs is probably the nerves being irritated, you can get both a constant tingle as well as shooting electrical pains down your limbs. I’ve got it down one arm from cervical stenosis in my neck & both legs from a lumbar-sacral stenosis.

Had laminectomies, facet joint replacements & multiple surgeries. Things are better initially but I know will degenerate over time with my DDD and body aging and wearing.

Lots of people do really well with cord stimulation, many find it life changing & they may still have some pain but greatly reduced & freer movement. A few don’t see a difference & a smaller number are worse off so you have to decide whether worth trying. There is info online about them, as well as a few FB pages for Spinal Stenosis or CRPS where people give their experiences. Probably your consultant could advise some reading or do a check on here & other Pain Concerns or Flippin Pain pages.

Controlling the pain is your main priority & if medicine not an option then surgery and SCS sound very viable for you.

[Davewm in reply to Geripop]

Thanks very much Geripop for the reply.

Really helpful advice.

Kind regards

David

[mifel]

I have PA and Osteoarthritis. I had weakness in my leg from a pinched nerve and had an L4-5 fusion which solved the weakness, but I still have some pain. Two years later had weakness in my right arm and had fusions in my neck which solved the weakness problem. For my pain I have an order for facet injections, but I decided to make a big effort to use physical therapy first. After a month of doing back and neck PT have made progress. So I would recommend giving that a try. For nerve pain I am taking Gabapentin and the lowest dose of BuTrans patches. I have my health care with the VA and they offer pain classes which I found very helpful. I use Mindfulness as well. In summary I suggest attacking the pain using several approaches.

[Davewm in reply to mifel]

Thank you so much for your very helpful and detailed reply.

Kind regards

David

[flamenca1 in reply to Davewm]

Hi DavewmI too have Spinal Stenosis. It started with pains and needles down my left leg after a knee replacement on that left knee.

Now I am waiting for a right knee replacement. I was sent for an x-ray recently on my left hip because of the needles and pins and was told I have arthritis in both hips.

The scary part is the pain down both legs when i am in bed. The Physiotherapist told me I could have a Spinal operation but he would not suggest it as they don't always work. He gave me a walker instead. He didn't tell me I could end up in a wheelchair. The pain in both legs last night resulted in me taking 2 Codeine before bed.

[Davewm in reply to flamenca1]

Thanks for reply. I hope in future your health improves.

[Hidden]

Davewm, as a previous respondent stated spinal cord stimulation can help but does not help everyone. My first SCS was implanted in 2012 following nerve damage that resulted from a spinal fusion in 2010. I would estimate I got around a 50% improvement early on but this tailed off. I gad a second lead implanted and the unit replaced which brought me back up to around 50% improvement. I am now on my 3rd stimulator and only getting around 20% improvement so not a great help.

I guess what I'm saying is do your research and talk to other SCS users if you can. I don't regret trying it but it has lead to 8 operations for revisions, repairs etc in the 10 or 11 years I've had it yet I've talked to others who swear by it. Technology moves on all the time so I've not totally given up.

You may be offered a 2 week trial of an SCS first where the lead is implanted but the device itself you wear on a belt. If you are unsure then this could be a less invasive way to see if it will work for you.

Good luck

[Davewm in reply to Hidden]

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply. I’m sorry you’ve had these problems.

Can I ask? Did you get offered the trial and what did that entail?

Kind regards

Davewm

[Hidden in reply to Davewm]

I was an early adopter of SCS ( which I'm sure contributed to the earliest issues) and was taking part on a research study, so a trial was mentioned but wasn't really offered. A full scs implanted involves 2 incisions, 1 small one (about half an inch) nearer to the spine to insert the lead and a second larger incision to implant the device itself and the lead is then passed through the soft tissue to connect to the device - this second incision is approx 2 - 3 inches long as the device is about the size of a jam jar lid.

With the trial you only have the first, smaller incision as the lead is connected externally to the device, which is worn on a belt.

For the operations you are awake throughout, with local anaesthetic and mild sedation. A full implant for me meant about 3 hours face down, awake but mildly sedated (it sounds worse than it is). The lead implant takes only about 20 mins, the rest of the time is implanting the device and connecting the two.

A trial means less initial time in surgery but requires a second operation to implant the device later whereas a full implant is only one op. On balance I would opt for a trial first if I was doing this again.

Hope that helps.

[Davewm]

Thank you so much. That’s very useful information/advice.

All the best for the future.

Kind regards

Davewm