Anyone have experience w/ foraminal stenosis and associated pain?

[Hugh_Lebowski]

Just got a diagnosis of it Friday, but it was a walk-in ortho clinic, only x-rays were taken but the PA sounded pretty certain of it via the images. I just got a week of methylprednisone and Rx for physical therapy.

This shit was BAD before I got these steroids in me, like 6-8 level pain in basically any position. I was DYIN' man. It started hurting like 3 weeks earlier but slowly advanced to near crippling levels.

It's apparently happening between my lowest two lumbar bones (L5-6 I wanna say?). Too many years of programming computers for a living I'm guessing i.e. too much time on my ass for 20+ years.

Any tips/things to avoid, etc?

TIA

[MLAA]

1. Just a guess that inflammation makes it worse...

I’d try staying off animal products for a few weeks to see if that helps. My sister recently fusion surgery for bulging disks back in April and is doing well. She relied on alternating heat and cold and plenty of extra strength Tylenol.

Good luck!

[mitch96]

2. I would suggest getting a second oppinion from an ortho or neuro guy.

A CT scan and MRI would give a better diagnosis than just a radiograph. I believe if it is a stenosis there is a roto router option. Is it localized in the back or do you have pain/numbness down your leg?
I have had a bad back for years after dragging beached whales across x-ray tables. I have always did yoga and light weights to keep all in check. I now do "Dr Google" physical therapy exercises. I have also found MSM/Glucosamine/chondroitin mix helps me a lot. Aleve has been my go to pain reliever but NSAIDS are not good to take on a continual basis. YMMV.
You have to find out what works for you.. good luck with the journey..
I hate this growing up shit...
m

[Hugh_Lebowski]

4. Top of left butt cheek is where the pain is extreme

I do also have some left leg numbness, not really pain, mostly in quad and bottom of foot. I wouldn't say it's painful but it's a bit disconcerting.

I do have a follow appt. with a specialist in 3 weeks, and PA from Friday said I should start PT like now.

[mitch96]

7. Depending on your age it might be arthritis in the hip, sacroIlliac joint or sciatica.

You have to rule all this out before any targeted treatment..
m

[Hugh_Lebowski]

10. 55 yo

I went in thinking it was SI joint pain from what I'd read online. He said per the x-rays that I looked great in the SI region. His manipulations of my legs and feet indicated it was my spine, and then he showed me the lateral x-ray and the way that the gap (looks like a hole in the xray) is much smaller between my lowest two lumbar vertebrae than it is in all the ones above it. It was obvious even to me it looked much different.

He said it's common for this condition to develop slowly over time, and then hit you like a ton of bricks when it reaches a certain level of constriction/inflammation on the nerve emerging from the 'hole' (I guess it's called a foramen?).

I will be seeing a true 'specialist' in 3 weeks. Not going to do anything extreme til I 'know'

[mitch96]

13. "from the 'hole' (I guess it's called a foramen?). " It always cracked me up at how many

names we have for specific holes in the body..
A foramen is used to denote the hole the nerve comes out of in the spine. It is also the "hole" in the base of your skull where the nerves come out of.
An "os" is a hole denoting the opening of the cervix. The meatus is the hole where your ear leads into your skull (not a foramen) Then you have the nostril external nares
aka. nose holes.
Then you have the stoma. Usually a hole in the intestines leading out of the body as in a colostomy bag. Along with that we have the sphincter which is technically a hole surrounded by a muscle.. One in one end of the intestines and one at the opposite end of the intestines..
Then you have your general porpoise orifices..
There are prolly a bunch more names that escape me... weird, huh...
I guess every profession has to have their "lingo" to differentiate this from that.. Like law..uff
m

[Irish_Dem]

5. Absolutely get a second opinion from ortho specialist.

Not just a walk in clinic.

This is your spine for heaven's sake. Don't mess around with it.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

8. I go back in 3 weeks for a consult with an ortho specialist, guessing they'll order more imaging

The walk-in clinic (which is an Ortho clinic specifically, part of a large company specializing in this stuff i.e. not just a random urgent care) was the only place I could get in right away, and I needed pain relief ... right away. Regular new patient appts were booked until like late October.

[Irish_Dem]

9. Yes I hear you, you did the right thing.

Get some immediate attention and relief while you are on a long wait list to see the specialist.

A pain level of 8 is totally unacceptable and no way to live.

I assume yes, you are going to get some imaging to see what is up.

Does icing the area help?

Also yes go see what the PT says, but don't get too carried away until you get a final dx.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

11. Strangely enough, icing the region was VERY irritating AFA the pain level goes

Heating helped a little but it really was mostly just CONSTANT pain, really just couldn't get comfortable ... so friggin' annoying.

Unless I stood up, which would dull the pain for a bit (like 5 mins), or gently stretching forward like putting my hands on a countertop, or laying on my back in bed.

Thanks for the advice

[Irish_Dem]

12. Listen to your body. Treatment is not one size fits all.

Ice sometimes works for me, sometimes not.
Same with heat.

That is good there were some ways to get temporary relief, make sure you tell the PTs about this.
Also what did not work.

PTs are really good and have lots of tools in their tool box in addition to exercise.

They can use massage, traction, needling, cupping, etc as need be.

The anti-inflammatories should kick in and give you some relief.

Good thing laying flat on your back helps, so that means you can get some sleep.

No problem, hope I am a little bit of help.

[Irish_Dem]

3. I have had severe fractures of L3, 4, 5. And sacrum and coccyx. And legs and ankles.

My recommendations:

- Twice yearly steroid injections by experienced pain management M.D.
Do not get the shots from the ortho clinic or orthopedic surgeon.
The pain management doc knows the correct location, and dosage and type of injection to give you.

-I highly recommend Physical Therapy. They are the ones who can get you mobile again.

-Best investment I ever made is a Sleep Number bed. I now sleep pain free.

My pain level was 8-10. Now I occasionally have 3 or 4 level.

Don't get discouraged, listen to your PTs, take their advice.

I now walk two miles a day!