Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Hi N.,

I would go see a chiropractor! With Spinal Stenosis you have a narrowing of your spinal canal. When the vertebrae in your back are out of place, it will also cause a narrowing of the spinal canal. Most people can handle some narrowing, however, since your space is already limited you are more likely to exhibit symptoms (ie - pain in your leg). By moving the vertebrae back into place it will open up the spinal canal and get the pressure off of the nerve. It is definitely worth a try before going for surgery! I am a chiropractor and I have seen this condition greatly improve under chiropractic care. If you would like more information or would like help finding a chiropractor in your area, please don't hesitate to email me or call me at ###-###-####. I have locations in Plano and Mesquite if that helps you at all. I hope you find relief soon! Dr. Sandra S.

I work for a dr and we have had several patients reffered to a pain mgmgt dr who has recommended this procedure. it is supposed to be great and less invasive all those great things. I am not sure any of them have had it done yet but the home health nurse we work with swears by it

Hi, N.! It sounds like a pinched nerve. I have had severe pain from my buttocks down to the bottom of my feet and then into my toes. It can be burning, numbness, or tingling. An MRI revealed also 2 bulging disks. I have had a shot and lots of medication when going through this. The best medicine I have recieved is Lyrica. It makes you very drowsy but the pain I was in was worth it. I have not had an episode in 5 months; however my foot is still numb due to nerve damage but it is livable compared to the pain I once was in.

Good luck!
M.

N., I have had some personal experience with this, both the stenosis and a herniated disc. I go to Texas Back Institute. They have several locations around the area. Once you get the MRI and see what those results show, then you should get with a specialist. The thing I like about TBI is that they have a wide range of doctors and treatments. They have chiropractors, physical therapists, pain management, as well as surgeons. With me they tried all the alternative treatments before recommending any surgery. I can recommend them. Their main number is ###-###-####. If you would like to talk with me further about my expereince, my number is ###-###-####
(cell). Good luck to you.

I am 51 and have a 14 year old and a 18 year old. I have always had trouble with my lower back. Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal.. From Xrays and MRI they can tell how narrow the spinal canal is and if it is pinching nerves. They will probably want to do a mylogram to put die in the spine and then do a CAT scan to have a better look. At least my neurosurgeon did 2 years ago. He went in and did a laminectomy and shaved off some of the bone that was pinching the nerves at the L-4and L-5. I was off work for 6 weeks. Couldn't drive for 2 weeks. Then not doing alot of lifting. Im and assistant principal hand have to deal with textbooks alot. I now have some spinal stenosis at the L-3. The L means lumbar spine. It is not bad enough for surgery. I saw a pain management dr. as my back, hip and right leg hurt. No reflexes in the right let. Dr. David Graybill is the dr I saw he is at Southwest Orthapedicts. I have had 3 steroid epidurals and they have really helped the pain. Now I am doing physical theraphy to strengthen my right leg.

Sheila

I don't personally have this condition but my mother does. She's had surgery twice and it didn't really help her a whole lot either time.

I'd explore every option available before you go the surgical route.

(((Good luck))))

N.,

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis is when the spinal canal narrows causing pressure on the spinal cord itself. This can cause pain and numbness down the legs. But, most likely this is not the case, unless you have had a serious trauma or a congenital stenosis. It may be just a disc bulge that is putting pressure on the nerves exiting your spinal cord that feed the tissues in your lower extremities. The MRI will give you the information that you need to determine that. Usually they do not recommend surgery unless the bulge is 7-8mm. If they want to cut on you and it's less, I would get a second opinion. Surgery is dangerous and you have a 50/50 chance of getting up off the table and only 14% of spinal surgeries are ever completly successful. The conservative route would be chiropractic care, and along with that, if there is a significant bulge, decompression therapy. The decompression will create a negative pressure in your disc space to pull the disc back in and the chiropractic will restore the alignment in the spine so the disc will not be able to buldge again. If you have any further questions you can email me personally at ____@____.com and I will be happy to decipher any questions you have about your MRI results as well as find a chiropractor near you. God Bless and I hope this helps.

Your GP will probably send you to a spine specialist. Not sure what part of town you live in, but WB Carrell Clinic is good ###-###-#### and also there is a spine surgeon at Baylor, Dr. Richard Viere who is good also.

I REALLY like my chiropractor so I'd probably go see her as well, she is near Knox/Henderson and 75. Dr. Ruth Durkee

I have not heard of this specifically but I know that stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal collum around the spinal cord and it can cause a delay in the nerves in the spine communicating with the brain... it can lead to shuffling when walking and other neurological problems... I think this occurs mostly in older people...

I have had problems in my hip all the way to my toes as well but its caused by a herniated disk in my spine. its called siatica... the siatic nerve runs all the way down and can hurt really bad in your whole leg.

I would see a specialist and not just a GP.

Good luck
A. J

I have had this problem for years, same symptoms, but because I've always gone to a chiropractor, I don't suffer with it unless I neglect my visits, or try to do something stupid that I should leave for my husband to do! I injured my lumbar vertebrea lifting my mother when she was dying w/cancer. That was 44 years ago, and now with the aging process, I am having to do less, visit my chiropractor on a regular basis and just be careful. I will avoid surgery as long as I can. Oh, I highly recommend going to a woman chiropractor, too. They are always more gentle than men. Just my experience.

Glad you are getting all the tests, but I would also go to a chiropractor. It sounds so basic, but if you've had chronic pain all your life, it could just be that your body has been out of whack all that time and it's compounding upon itself now. Have you researched LSS? My father in law had it - a gradual tightening of the sheath that encases the spinal column andt\ causes it to contract and eventually bent him almost in half. I never researched it enough to see if it happens to young people and children...but definitely get a second opinion, and ask LOTS of questions. And if you have any doubts, it can't hurt to check with a chiropractor. The body is an amazing thing and can heal itself if aligned properly. Good luck!

N. -
My mom received the same diagnosis earlier this year. She wanted to try chiropractic care as her first option, but her spine had deteriorated too much for it to be effective. She ended up having laser surgery at the Laser Spine Institute in Tampa (they live in Florida) and was walking the same day and has not had any problems since. I know nothing about medicine, but it might be worth researching to see if they have other locations or if there is another facility here that does the same type of procedure.

Yes I have similar problems. I have multiple budging disks in my lower back. This does make taking care of children not so easy I know. I go to a chiropractor and it helps. But if you go that wrought you want to find a good one! My only other option is surgery at this time and I have two young boys too (6 & 9) and I can't afford to be down that long and spinal surgery just scares me!!!!! I could recommend a great chiropractor but she's in Fort Worth if you are interested let me know and I can give you her information! I can tell you if you ask your GP they will probably tell you not to go that wrought but they are not big on natural medicines cause that makes them loose money!

spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spaces where the spinal cord (central stenosis) or the peripheral nerves (foraminal stenosis) exits the vertebral column are narrowed. You should see a specialist and try physical therapy to see if you can minimize your symptoms. good luck.