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Suggest Treatment For Lateral Stenosis
Question: I have a question please. I awoke in middle of night with excruciating radiculopathy in my leg & pain in outer 1/3 of my buttocks. Very low back pain came about 2 weeks into this. It is not the typical piriformis, down the back of leg sort of pain I have had before & this is very different. This seems more to the front and lateral side of my thigh. This is now SIX months ago. I have moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis also. I have seen Neuro, Ortho, pain management and spine specialist I have done MRI, bone scan and X-rays of course & hospitalized twice for the excruciating pain. Pain was horrific & whole leg was burning,painful, and very numb from L2/3 thru S1, the only slight relief was from the 600 mg. per day of Lyrica & 10 cortisone/steroid shots in my spine & hip. Those lessened the numbness and pain slightly. I am taking Percocet 7.5 every 6 hours, the pain however is only lessened to tolerable for perhaps 3 1/2-4 hours. The tests revealed bulging disc l3/4,l4/5 and central and lateral stenosis. Spine surgeon says I need decompression surgery quickly. A 3 minute consult with hospital Neuro said yes I did have stenosis (most people in my family do) but not enough to do surgery ??? What the heck? Do you have any guidance for me? The whole scenario has been has been quite traumatizing! Thank you for any insight you may have.
Brief Answer:
Try spinal traction. If it does not help go for spinal surgery.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone very carefully through your query. I understand that both the radiculopathy as well as the rheumatoid arthritis are simultaneously contributing to your problem. Although the neurologist thought that the condition not to be serious enough to take the risks of spine surgery, with further worsening, spine surgery would be the only option left. As of now, you have the option between spinal traction and spinal surgery. I think that you can try spinal traction and see the difference it makes. If not, it is better to quickly opt for spinal surgery thereafter.
As of now, physical therapy and exercises would provide transient relief. The physical therapist will also be able to provide the spinal traction.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Try spinal traction. If it does not help go for spinal surgery.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone very carefully through your query. I understand that both the radiculopathy as well as the rheumatoid arthritis are simultaneously contributing to your problem. Although the neurologist thought that the condition not to be serious enough to take the risks of spine surgery, with further worsening, spine surgery would be the only option left. As of now, you have the option between spinal traction and spinal surgery. I think that you can try spinal traction and see the difference it makes. If not, it is better to quickly opt for spinal surgery thereafter.
As of now, physical therapy and exercises would provide transient relief. The physical therapist will also be able to provide the spinal traction.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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