It sounds like a laminectomy is the recommended procedure. Google that and read all about it so you know what's going on. Ask the doc if the laminectomy is what will fix you up. Worked for me in the exact same location about 5 years ago. Give the irritated nerves a week to calm down after surgery. After that, for me, it was like it never happened. 100% success.
I have googled the procedure that was proposed for me "BILATERAL / LATERAL RECESS DECOMPRESSION & BILATERAL INTERLAMINAR DECOMPRESSION " there is a lot iof info about theses different methods, it also says that this procedure is more effective if it is also stabilised [fused] , I had already asked the consultant that question at my last meeting & he said no it would not be fused or screwed, but from what I have read if its not stabilised then it can slip again....any thoughts on this ?
I had my decompressive laminectomy at L4/L5 and L5/S1 three years before my fusion. Never felt anything wrong.
Chico
Regarding your last post above, why did you need a Fusion if the surgery went well ?
The Laminectomy was necessary for a bone spur crushing my sciatic nerve root at L4. Completely different problem than the disk degeneration and other issues necessitating the L3-S1 fusion years later.
You have really gone through the mill my friend...are you all fixed & pain free now....I would hope so..
At almost 70, it's not like being half that age. Recovery is slower and the fusions carry restrictions. At least all that previous pain is gone.
Nice to know the pain has gone.
I am 67 years old in December, I just hope that I can get rid of my pain, I don't expect to be able to do all that I could do when I was in my 30's I just have to get rid of this debilitating pain.
I am Not having much luck with consultants as mentioned previously I asked for a 2nd opinion but only got the feeling of being fobbed off, after doing loads of my own research I believe the surgery i need that gives the best success for the long term is a decompression / laminectomy but with stabilisation using bone graft to fuse also screws & rods to keep the position of the spine stable, this is the only way to stop future slippage. this is not only the most effective but also expensive, hence my problem with the NHS. if you pay private or you are in the USA with medical insurance cover then its not a problem ,but anyone in the UK would have to be on their death bed to get any expensive treatment. in the UK They would rather do a much less expensive procedure even though they know that there is a good chance it could make the pain worse, they have offered me a "bilateral decompression / laminectomy" but not fusion to stabilise my spine...the consultant actually said to me this could make the pain worse & its success rate is not good, & if he was me he would not have the surgery, he went onto to say that If I went for this procedure & it did not work out that there would be no further discussions after, in other words if the pain returned & was worse than before there would be no further treatment ...I found his comments unbelievable & I have told him and his colleagues what I think, I have also complained to my GP...but I am not holding my breath
Quote from !Mayfield "Spine & Brain"
spinal fusion may be done at the same time to help stabilize sections of the spine treated with laminectomy. Fusion uses a combination of bone graft, screws, and rods to connect two separate vertebrae together into one new piece of bone. Fusing the joint prevents the spinal stenosis from recurring and can help eliminate pain from an unstable spine.
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/sciatica-surgery-success-rates-617211
I have two fusions but the op to fix my sciatic problem (before any fusions) was a simple laminectomy/decompression. Then again, your spine is seemingly different if the doc is looking at stabilization. I will tell you that I had a TLIF of L3 through S1 and an LLIF at L2/L3. Both were very successful although my restrictions on bending are tough.
Hi Chico
An update on my position with the consultants, I saw the surgeon 2 weeks the one who did my ACDF in 2012 for the 2nd opinion, I had the feeling he he did not want to see me I felt really uncomfortable during the appointment, but he did say that if I was to have surgery it would NOT be what the previous Doc' wanted to do which was bilateral decom' / laminectomy with no fusion. he said I would need bone graft & fusion with pedicle rods a screws etc, but he then said he wanted to x-rays of me stood up bending backwards & then forwards to see if there was any instability, I had the x-rays & went home after, a week later a letter was sent to my GP with NO results of the x-rays, but he said in the letter because my leg pain had settled [ I don't know where he got that from] so he then suggested that I carry on with the lumber spine injections & referred me back to the previous Doc'. I wrote a letter to this consultant & a copy to the first Doc' with my concerns about the appointment & the letter to my GP, I did not get a reply, but I had a appointment with the first Doc' on Monday & I was simply being fobbed off yet again, he even suggested that the consultant who did my ACDF did not want to see me again, he even wanted to discharge me or re-refer me to another hospital in the area, but this hospital does not have any neurosurgeons it only has orthopaedic spinal surgeons "unbelievable", I refused this & i also refused to be discharged....I told him I would be willing to try physiotherapy & if that did no good I would try a chiropractor. I don't hold up much hope at all.
just a reminder of my condition, I have bilateral stenosis & sciatic pain in both legs...my left leg is the more pain full buttock & thigh area, my right its the leg buttock area also but its mainly & more consistently in my right calf.
I would love to hear your thoughts.
PS.. I also offered to pay for any surgery myself providing it was the correct procedure done by the right, but that made no difference
Consultant
Where did you have it done? Most surgeons try to put you off spinal surgery for stenosis.
Hit me last October/November...x-ray was unclear...MRI showed the problem. To confirm, my neuro did a CT/Myelogram with contrast (the "gold standard" spine test) in January and his partner injected some pain meds directly into L2/L3 to make absolutely sure in February. Those meds don't really work on me but I did get a few days of relief. The options were: remove all my L3 through S1 TLIF hardware and re-fuse me L2 through S1 (10 days in the hospital, 6 months of rehab)...or...the LLIF (pictures...posterior and lateral) with an overnight stay and zero rehab.
This was a no-brainer choice...did the op in March. My guy is from the Fort Worth Brain and Spine Institute (Texas, USA)...saved my wife's life from a brain aneurysm 7+ years ago. Trust him completely. Understand that I have a metal hip and a metal knee plus the TLIF and LLIF spine hardware...after 45+ years of playing hockey, the bill eventually comes due. Now I'm the TSA's worst nightmare at the airport!!!
The test you need is a CT/Myelogram with contrast. This is the "gold standard" test for the spine. It will lead to the correct diagnosis. And yes...you need a neurosurgeon for this...period.
Chico,
the guy who did my ACDF in 2012 is the one who gave me the 2nd opinion this time he did talk about fusion & stabilising the spine , he is the one who does the hardware surgery he sent me for the x-rays & said he would organise an MDT, but I new when he did not want to see after for the follow up & referred me back to the Doc' who cant do the hardware that I was not getting anywhere, he suggested in the letter to my GP that I carry on with the injections...so I wrote to this consultant myself expressing my opinion, but no reply.. when I saw this doc' for the follow up he actually suggested that the other consultant did not want to see me anymore, this is obviously because I challenge his opinion he obviously did not like the letter I sent him...how arrogant is that.. but then for them to try to transfer me to a clinic that only has orthopaedic spinal surgeons is unbelievable... I obviously refused & I refused to be discharged, they have taken a dislike to me because I have my own opinions.....but going back to 2012 when I eventually had the ACDF, if I had not challenged the 2 previous consultants who both proposed inadequate surgery that would have left my neck unstable & asked for a 3rd opinion, then I would not be in a wheel chair now... so I am getting absolutely nowhere.
The other thing that shocked me in my last appointment was that the doc' said to me "this condition is not life threatening" so it has to be life threatening to get the surgery if its not then they expect me to continue to suffer the pain....UNBELIEVABLE !!!!!!!!!!
CORRECTION TO THE PREVIOUS POST TO Chico
Wrong...> Then I would not be in a wheel chair now
this is what it should say "Then I would Be "in a wheel chair" now"
You seem to be trapped by a system that will not allow you the care you need. Not a great place to be. I understand your frustration but cannot feel the physical pain and emotional agony this is putting you through. I don't know how your system works so I have no idea if outside, positive consultations or legal maneuvering will break the cycle and get you what you need. "Life threatening" is not a requirement for back surgery here in the US. Are there any advocacy groups over there whose members have run into similar situations? What did they do? Maybe a chorus is better than a single voice in this situation.
Again, I have no idea what the "rules" are over there and how to break through the red tape. Your attempts at direct confrontation have hit a bureaucratic stone wall regardless of the intellectual justifications of your argument. I would try and find people who have been in your situation and got around it. May a new post with a UK-specific title will get you the responses you need. I'd give that a try. Wish I could help but the inner workings of your healthcare system and your path to relief are beyond my knowledge.
One thing I wish for you is a very Merry Christmas. For one day, put this aside and feel the love of the people closest to you.
Hi Chico
Thanks for your kind words & your advice.
To be honest I am running out of steam, the only consultant I really trust does not seem to want to deal with me, I really don't know what I have done to offend him. the only thing I have done is pushed for right man to do the right procedure.
Have a Great Xmas & New Year my friend, & many thanks again !