Hello @Emelia8
The description of your back pain seems very similar to the pain, and difficulty moving, that I have experienced due to stenosis of the spine, causing pinching or damage to the “neural pathway”. I can both sympathise and empathise with you, in having to deal with that very severe pain.
The best description of those problems, that I received, was given to me by a podiatrist. She explained that the numbness in my feet and lower legs was, most likely, caused by narrowing of the spinal column that could have been, either genetic, pinching or crushing of the pathways by accretion of calcified material within the column, or pinching of the nerves as they exited between the vertebra. The changes in sensation are caused by either the pinching or damage caused along the neural pathway, between the nerve-end location and the brain. The description that the podiatrist gave me was later confirmed by scans and specialist observations. That description sounds very similar to what you have recently described here on the forum.
I tried many avenues to work through the problem. Ultimately, at age 50, I decided to take advice, following the scans, and have a fusion and laminectomy operation. Since the first, I have had two further operations. The first was Lumbar4, 5 & Sacrum1. The second was L3, 4 &5. The third was L2, 3, 4 &5. I am now over 70.
The first that I became aware of a problem was in National Service (Army). Following that I took up competition rowing in 8's and 4's. This seemed to strengthen my back considerably. I later worked as a brickies labourer and quite a few years clerical/office work. In the last few years, before the first procedure, I also established and worked a lawn-mowing round in conjunction with school bus driving. It was at this stage that I became aware of my back giving me significant concern. It deteriorated to a point where I had great difficulty walking even 50 metres.
It is my belief that I am still independently mobile because of those procedures. After the second operation I looked after my mother for 7 years and was with her each day, during the next 3 years, when Mum went into residential care, less than 1 km from our house. I could certainly not have looked after her, if I had not proceeded with the operations.
If I was in the same position in the 1950's, I think that I would have spent most of that time, confined to a chair, relying on medication, and possibly other options, to relieve the continuous pain. I still need to take medication to relieve pain. I have almost no alcohol consumption, apart from when I have dinner with friends, about once each month. What I am saying is that I do not self medicate in that way either. It would also be very unwise for me to do so in conjunction with other medication that I take, as prescribed. I do use a staff for walking, since the operations could not change or rectify damage already done. Consequently, I have difficulty with balance, for which the staff helps compensate.
If I can share any information that may be helpful to you, I would be very pleased to do so. I am really just giving you my view on the subject that, I hope, might assist you in your consideration of options. My details, obviously, are from the perspective of one who believes that the work done has given me a better quality of life than I may otherwise have expected.
With My Very Best Wishes
@HenryX
