I forgot!

[doublehippy]

Mark...thanks so much for your input! Means a lot to me...

My thoughts exactly about my MRI results....not too bad! That's why I was so surprised when my surgeon recommended a double level fusion. I'd like to think a "simple" decompression is possible and am still researching my options. I live in a city with a huge teaching medical community (UPMC) and, from what I can tell, it's the neurosurgeons doing the less invasive procedures (and, for that matter, the X-stop).

I think I mentioned having bi-lateral hip replacements. I'm a crooked lady (leg length issues, pelvic obliquity, etc.) and since we all know that it's all "connected" one way or another, probably a huge factor. My pain wraps around both hips up to the waistline, down both legs (not at the same time) and especially into the left groin area. That pain is with me 24/7 and wakes me in the middle of the night when I flex my leg a certain way. Can't tell if it's nerve pain or muscle/ligament pain! arrrrgggghhhhh....

Anyway, thanks again. You were kind to take the time to answer.
All the best,
Linda

Bi-lateral hip replacements
colon re-section
PT
ESI's
Selective Nerve Root Injections
Actively researching options to fix my tired, old back!

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."
-Confucius

[Maria]

You'll be lucky like me and your disc space will autofuse somewhere.. that sure helped my L5S1 pain and I still have L4 disc probs tho low dose daily opioid pain med seems to help greatly and at least I "appear" to be a well functioning 58 y.o. female! In reality I can do a fair amount as long as sitting long periods aren't involved and heavy duty anything. No longer work so that has taken a lot of pressure of me/my spine.

One thing that I've found is walking and being active is imperative to my spinal well being and less pain. I must have way too much arthritis in there because when I was off my feet for a few weeks re my most recent foot surgery (bunionectomy right foot) my back was KILLING ME by the 2nd week. I literally had to force myself to walk once I was given the OK to be on my feet/foot post that surgery. Even a gimp walk was better than no walking.

I used to have burning pain in the areas you mentioned re wrapping around the hips and going down both legs (deep burning pain plus the terrible back pain). That's gone so I think that was really related more to the L5S1 disc for me.

Stay as active as you can and if you've not already tried pain management meds (big guns/strong ones) you may want to try them before surgery altho I do have a 70 y.o. friend that had 2 level fusion about 4 months ago and is doing way better than she was for years prior to the surgery.

[doublehippy]

Thanks, Maria, for taking the time to write.

Sitting is not an issue for me...it's the walking or standing in one position for any length of time! I have to have something to lean forward onto....like a grocery cart or my walker.

My spine is so arthritic that when the anesthesiologist tried to do the spinal for my last hip replacement, he stuck me 4 times before he got in. Same thing happened with one of my epidural steroid injections.

My hope is for a decompression without fusion....or some sort of minimally invasive procedure. I'm hoping and still researching!

Take good care,
Linda