Spinal Stenosis

Hello Everyone,

I am wondering who has had work done on his or her back for spinal stenosis, the kind of procedure and the outcome. This appears to be the current chapter in my life and am going through the referral process. I have already fired one specialist with whom I did not click, BUT I am exceedingly hopeful about the next one whose PA I will see in three weeks and him, likely in January for an initial visit. Fortunately, at this time I am reasonably symptom free, but my August and September were ones that really knocked the stuffing out of me.

This is a 5 year history that goes back to my summer from hell 2012 when Fosamax became my enemy after 9 years and I am convinced it gave me three complete spontaneous fractures. After all else I have been through with that chapter, Forteo to heal them, self discovered parathyroid disease and subsequent self referral to Norman Parathyroid Center on April 4, 2016 for surgery - the stenosis had remained fairly stable. Current MRI shows a progression that tells me I want to address the source and not treat symptoms with Rx or spinal steroid injections. Recent symptoms tell me the same thing.

The first neurosurgeon suggested that because of my complex case, I would need extensive surgery that may not promise the outcome I am looking for despite the procedure. He discouraged me in that last 10 minute appointment from having any surgery which he thought should be a decompression and a spinal fusion. However, on his summary to my primary doctor he recommends only spinal fusion, when I was going initially and continue hoping to address the stenosis that impedes and pinches the nerves that feed my left leg, causing pain, cramping and neuropathy.

The new surgeon and his genius were introduced to us at a talk he gave last week. His approach is minimally invasive spinal surgery, using a technique called frameless stereotaxy that has been developed for brain surgery and not only has he transferred this technique to his spinal patients, but he designed the surgical suite that includes a movable MRI that can be used during surgery, when needed, to check placement of hardware before they close the patient.

No updates until early November after I have had my time with the surgeon's assistant.

Feeling blessed,

hocadobi