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What Causes Back Pain Post A Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Surgery?
Question: I AM CONSIDERING lumbar SPINE SURGERY FOR l3 l4. I HAVE GOTTEN WORSE IN THE LAST MONTH, EVIDENCED BY FREQUENT FALLING. I AM IN A WHEEL CHAIR AND UNABLED TO STAND FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME, AS WELL AS HAVING PAIN IN HIPS LEGS AND FEET. i WOULD GUESS THAT i AM EXPERIENCING A FORM OF PARALYSIS IN BOTH LEGS, WITH TINGLING, NUMBNESS AND THE FEELING OF A TURNICAT WRAPPED AROUND MY FEET.
i HAVE RECENTLY BE DIAGNOSED WITH OSTEOPEROSIS AND AM A CONTROLLED DIABETIC OF 15 YRS.
i AM RECENTLY ON MEDICATION FOR BOTH OSTEOPEROSIS AND DIABETES. i TAKE ONLY 1 PILL DAILY OF Januvia AND IT KEEPS MY BLOOD LEVEL BETWEEN 6.2 AND 6.6.
MY QUESTION IS: 1. WILL SURGERY CORRECT THE PAIN, FALLING AND FUTURE DISABILITY.
I AM 71 YEARS, OLD, FEMALE AND THOUGHT I WAS IN RELATIVELY GOOD HEALTH. THE BACK PAIN HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR THE LAST 40+YEARS. IN THE LAST 2YRS, PAIN HAS GOTTEN WORSE ALONG WITH BOTH KNEES.
THIS CONDITION HAS FORCED ME TO RETIRE FROM MY EMPLOYMENT, AS OF 1 YEAR AGO. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO BE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED AGAIN. I DONT GIVE UP EASILY.
i HAVE RECENTLY BE DIAGNOSED WITH OSTEOPEROSIS AND AM A CONTROLLED DIABETIC OF 15 YRS.
i AM RECENTLY ON MEDICATION FOR BOTH OSTEOPEROSIS AND DIABETES. i TAKE ONLY 1 PILL DAILY OF Januvia AND IT KEEPS MY BLOOD LEVEL BETWEEN 6.2 AND 6.6.
MY QUESTION IS: 1. WILL SURGERY CORRECT THE PAIN, FALLING AND FUTURE DISABILITY.
I AM 71 YEARS, OLD, FEMALE AND THOUGHT I WAS IN RELATIVELY GOOD HEALTH. THE BACK PAIN HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR THE LAST 40+YEARS. IN THE LAST 2YRS, PAIN HAS GOTTEN WORSE ALONG WITH BOTH KNEES.
THIS CONDITION HAS FORCED ME TO RETIRE FROM MY EMPLOYMENT, AS OF 1 YEAR AGO. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO BE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED AGAIN. I DONT GIVE UP EASILY.
Brief Answer:
More info is needed, accompanying conditions make success less likely
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I am also sorry that you haven't got an answer for some hours, but that was perhaps because it is difficult for me or my colleagues to reach a conclusion based on the given information.
Surgery of the spine must be carefully considered, it is aimed at correcting a focal damage or compression, or in stabilizing vertebrae. For that imaging tests through MRIs of the spine are needed in order to assess the damage site and whether surgery will solve it. In your case you do not provide any tests, reports, of imaging you may have done. As a result it is difficult to understand what can the surgery do for you.
Even with all the information spine surgery is not always successful for all patients. The longer the symptoms have been present the less likely it is for surgery to be a success. Furthermore in your case there are also confounding factors such as the long standing osteoporosis and diabetes. Diabetes is a major risk factor for peripheral neuropathy which can well cause abnormal sensations in the limbs as well as balance issues. If that is the cause surgery can't do much about that. So that possibility should be carefully assessed, through a neurological exam and nerve conduction studies.
When it comes to osteoporosis it is also a source of chronic pain and it can also be an obstacle to spine surgery success.
So these factors should be taken into account as well.
It is for the above reasons that it is difficult to answer your question, careful examination and tests are needed and even then it may be a difficult decision.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
More info is needed, accompanying conditions make success less likely
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I am also sorry that you haven't got an answer for some hours, but that was perhaps because it is difficult for me or my colleagues to reach a conclusion based on the given information.
Surgery of the spine must be carefully considered, it is aimed at correcting a focal damage or compression, or in stabilizing vertebrae. For that imaging tests through MRIs of the spine are needed in order to assess the damage site and whether surgery will solve it. In your case you do not provide any tests, reports, of imaging you may have done. As a result it is difficult to understand what can the surgery do for you.
Even with all the information spine surgery is not always successful for all patients. The longer the symptoms have been present the less likely it is for surgery to be a success. Furthermore in your case there are also confounding factors such as the long standing osteoporosis and diabetes. Diabetes is a major risk factor for peripheral neuropathy which can well cause abnormal sensations in the limbs as well as balance issues. If that is the cause surgery can't do much about that. So that possibility should be carefully assessed, through a neurological exam and nerve conduction studies.
When it comes to osteoporosis it is also a source of chronic pain and it can also be an obstacle to spine surgery success.
So these factors should be taken into account as well.
It is for the above reasons that it is difficult to answer your question, careful examination and tests are needed and even then it may be a difficult decision.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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