New Member with Severe Foraminal Stenosis and a Few Other Issues

[raising4daughters]

I appreciate this website and have already gotten educated a bit.

This is my 2nd bout with chronic pain in 5 years that appears to be destined for surgical correction. The first was with Post-Vasectomy Pain Syndrome that required a 3.5 hour microscopic reversal 15 months after the initial procedure.

So far, my back pain pales in comparison to that and to what I've read about many members' posts. If I stay idle, do my PT, use my lumbar traction device, and take my neurontin, my pain levels remain fairly low (1-3 of 10). However, prior to May, I was a very active 46 year-old with 4 children that bikes, runs, hikes, plays softball, camps, and rides roller coasters. A simple walk around a supermarket or DIY store spikes the pain to very high levels (5-8).

So, since May, I've become essentially an invalid like my 70 year-old father who never had his back issues corrected and he can barely walk. I'm not ready to throw in the towel and live a sedentary life, so after 5-6 months of conservative treatment, I'm seeing 3 surgeons in the next 2 weeks.

I'm comfortable with the 3 suregons I'm seeing; 2 are neurosurgeons and 1 is a orthorpaedic that specializes exclusively on the spine.

I would appreciate any input from those that have been or are being treated for similar conditions. Things to consider, results, do's and don'ts, etc.

Again, thanks for the website and for your assistance.

Scott

[KBear]

Welcome to the forum! It sounds like you are on the right track to getting better. We always suggest a minimum of 6 months conservative care before surgery. The next suggestion is multiple opinions from surgeons. You are doing both of those and that's great. I really believe that once you have given your spine a reasonable amount of time to heal without surgery and it doesn't, then it's best not to prolong surgery for too long. It seems like the people who get surgery sooner, rather than later heal faster than the rest of us. Good luck!

[raising4daughters]

I saw 2 surgeons this week.

#1 - REALLY, REALLY like this guy (at Cleveland Clinic). He believes the stenosis is causing the majority of my problems (I agree) and that I may be a candidate for minimally invasive foraminotomy to solve the stenosis problem. He said he would remove all or part of the herniated disk, too. He wants a CT scan to be sure he won't have to remove too much bone. If not, then I face fusion of L5/S1. He said the stenosis is bad enough that while injections might provide some relief, he thinks that I've done enough conservative treatments since May to warrant looking at surgical option.s

#2 - Decent guy, but didn't seem to care much (which was unexpected). He thinks we should "check all the boxes" and move onto epidural injections before contemplating surgery. He does not favor minimally-invasive options and would move right into fusion of L5/S1. He believes the foraminotomy/laminectomy etc. are temporary and, given my age (almost 47), I should go for the permanent solution now.

My back pain is actually fairly low when idle, but anything like simply going for a walk really spikes the pain to the left of the spine and in the legs. Both surgeons pointed out that leg pain is easier to get rid of, which I didn't realize.

Anyway, I'm seeing my presumed 1st choice surgeon on 11/28. He did a VERY successful minimally invasive surgery on my brother-in-law.

I'm worried that the foraminotomy is postponing the inevitable fusion, but perhaps if I can get 5 or 10 years relief, why not? Pro's / con's anyone?