I had surgery 6 months ago for cauda. I still have numbness in my legs and one of my feet, but I no longer suffer from incontinence, and with physical therapy, I can now move pretty well and even run a mile. I'm wondering now how to continue my recovery, and hopefully one day have no pain in my back. Has anyone been able to recover fully from CES? Is anyone running again? Can you run more than a mile? Does the pain ever go away? What do I need to do to get to the next level in my recovery? I worry that if I exercise to more I risk reinjuring myself, and I do not want to do that.
Perhaps it coulde a simple as a Lumbar Syovial Cyst,which does not show up on CT or Millogrm. Some Surgeos will not believe anything until they SEE it. Kinda dumb huh?
I'm now 13 years post op... 2 discectomy/laminectomy, 1 L4/L5 fusion later...
I can run, jump and have a physically active life. I still have left leg nerve damage following the S1 nerve root. I have to protect and care for the foot due to lack of circulation. Pain never completely goes away. However, after the fusion, it took 1 year to get back to "normal". With intense physical therapy, swimming, walking, massage, and accupuncture, I was able to "climb the mountain and get through the pain, to the other side". My life is very normal now and my back issues, pain and CES does not define me. It's hard work, but with patience and support, it's possible to heal.
Thank you so much for your encouraging response. I can't tell you how good it is to hear!