Cervical Spinal Stenosis

[ratas calientes]

Gentlemen . . . anyone ever have this? How were you treated? How long was recovery?
I was diagnosed with this condition last week. Doc said I needed surgery yesterday. Trying to get into a neurosurgeon. Wait time may be months!
PM's are welcome if not willing to share here.

Ratas

 

[tac-40]

My neighbor had this done. His recovery took a while but he said his symptoms went away

Cervical Laminoplasty: Surgery for Neck Stenosis | HSS Spine

Look midway down the page for a video of the procedure. Not sure if this fits your condition.

 

[Dee]

I had it in C5/6 10 years ago. The disc was toast. I did PT, chiropractor and steroid shots but relief was temporary. The solution was a fusion. The surgery entailed cleanout of the narrowing of the nerve channel (ie the stenosis), replace the disc with a spacer secured with screws and pack the fused vertebrae with cadaver bone. The surgery was pretty short, spent the night in the hospital and went home. Worst part of the procedure was walking down the hallway in a gown with my ass hanging out.
Worked well, no lingering pain or lack of mobility. Recovery was supposed to be 3 months but was considerably shorter, The doctor is an orthopedic surgeon.

 

[ratas calientes]

Thanks for the info. IIRC from my doc, most of the issue is with the burst discs impinging on the spine. I have no real pain in my neck. Most of it is a right leg that drags when I walk, and a left leg that feels cold, and losing strength on the right side and less dexterity with my right hand. Thanks to our worthless NM governor and her policies, the cost of practicing medicine here has increased greatly. So many of our doctors have left the state. There are only three neurosurgeons in Albuquerque, and one of those does not take my insurance.

I understand that there is some overlap between orthopedic and neurosurgeons. There is one good orthopedic group here, but they don't have a good back surgeon yet . . . but they are expecting one. (This from a brief phone discussion with a ortho that I know.)

Glad to hear Dee that you recovered quickly. Good to hear Tac's neighbor has no more symptoms.

 

[alphadog58]

Mrs alphadog had L5-S1 fused two years ago. Same process as Dee had. Had some areas with stenosis, too. They went in with the surgeons version of a dremel and routered out the nerve passageways. She had been in much pain for a couple years. She’s fine now. She says that the surgery was a life changer. Hope that your experience is the same.
Larry

 

[tac-40]

Out here in South Carolina, a lot of that type of spinal surgery is now being done by robots because they can translate hand motions into very small movements in that delicate area. Saw this a while back and it may be something you can discuss with your docs.

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" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If your health care system in your home State has degraded in quality of care, you just might want to consider looking at your next door neighbors and see if they have doctors that can do the procedures needed using the latest technology. A weeks vacation for you and the Mrs. may be just the ticket for your recovery.

 

[Jaxxas]

Sure you have, but I would want at least a second opinion. My sister never really covered.

ymmv