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Spinal stenosis (cervical/neck).

Finally got my diagnosis and i have a bulging herniated lumbar disc and spinal stenosis in my neck (in multiple places), i don't have symptoms of osteoarthritis but have had symptoms of rheumatic arthritis. The cervical stenosis is causing me the most problems and i'm just wondering if anyone has any advice for me.
I can't seem to do anything much without causing myself pain, so i have been resting as much as possible for 9 months (many days been unable to move anyway it's been that painful) and since leaving hospital i have been literally not moving at all unless necessary, the not moving has eased the pain off considerably so i felt good enough to go for a 15 min walk today and the pain is back again (in new areas as well as old). Obviously i can't live the rest of my life by not moving, it's boring and frustrating, so i was wondering if anyone else has had/got this condition and has any advice on what improves the condition, and/or if you have had an operation and if this has helped you? I'm seriously considering the operation myself and you probably don't need to convince me to have one, i was hoping to hear others experiences despite this.
I can't seem to do anything much without causing myself pain, so i have been resting as much as possible for 9 months (many days been unable to move anyway it's been that painful) and since leaving hospital i have been literally not moving at all unless necessary, the not moving has eased the pain off considerably so i felt good enough to go for a 15 min walk today and the pain is back again (in new areas as well as old). Obviously i can't live the rest of my life by not moving, it's boring and frustrating, so i was wondering if anyone else has had/got this condition and has any advice on what improves the condition, and/or if you have had an operation and if this has helped you? I'm seriously considering the operation myself and you probably don't need to convince me to have one, i was hoping to hear others experiences despite this.
Replies
thanks jamie, that was really helpful especially as i don't actually know much about treatment itself. i don't seem to have lost much strength luckily but because of the numbness i am clumsy and bearing weight on anything causes pain.
yes my concern is that i end up with permanent damage or have to rest forever, i'm already pretty sure i want an operation but i will ask about the risks first and then decide. hope everything goes well for you at your appointment.
They did tell me my condition would never get better, just worse, so I made a bucket list of the places I want to go and the things I want to do,im slowly getting through it.
Flump
I'm being booked in for a discectomy on my lumbar region after i saw my consultant again last week, he said you're only in for a day as well so it sounds like a fairly easy operation. It should relieve some pain and my mobility might improve also. You should look into it @flump ? They can't do anything about pain from spinal stenosis in the neck anyway, so i got told, all they can do is help with weak arms or numbness in the limbs. I think it's just the way the nerves are in the neck that makes this so.
It's **** this disease, i'm also in therapy now because i have moderate depression but that is helping so that's good i suppose.
My consultant has said the same as yours @jamie1965 but things are getting moving now, hows things going with you?
I just had surgery 4 weeks ago. It was bilateral decompression and mechanical fusion on L3 / L4.
So far I am feeling much better! I can climb stairs again and I am able to walk again without looking like a duck and crippling pain! I am so pleased!
As several of you mentioned above, I still have bad pain in my back if I walk on an uneven surface or I am not standing completely upright, but my mobility is so much better.
Unfortunately as we know, it is degenerative and I've been told I will probably need another op in time, but I must say the benefit of the op well outweighed the risks.
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My GP told me only when I started stumbling and dropping objects would they consider operating so here I am slowly deteriorating with symptoms I recognise from the past and hoping it doesn’t worsen quickly. I am 62yrs.
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