Degenerate Vertebra, Pinched Nerve

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For reasons not known, a lower vertebra can “over grow” and constrict the tunnel the spinal cord sits in.

It can cause great pain not in your back but upper leg, lower buttocks, area above the hips.

Operation is apparently a simple out patient procedure to access and enlarge the tunnel. Also will fuse that vertebra to make it extra stable.

Has any one had this done, or is familiar with this?

Pain now is when walking. Sitting and laying is fine. Advice on self grounding? I’m now off the pain meds, as I’m learning how to minimize walking, no lifting, and other tricks to not pinch that nerve.
 
If you can’t walk pain free and do the things necessary to pre-flight the aircraft, you need to ground yourself even if medication isn’t grounding you as is.
 
Dad had the lower 2 fused after significant leg pain and drop foot starting. 6 weeks later he was in an aluminum fishing boat at a camp up in Canada fishing for hours on end and getting blasted with waves. That was 2008. Pain free since. And cusses himself out for not doing it sooner.

Much more invasive than youre talking. Fusion is not out patient. Get it fixed. Life's too short to live with pain if there's a solution.
 
Spinal canal constriction or 'stenosis' can be caused by a number of abnormalities, some with easier fixes than others...none of which I would characterize as simple. If there is potential instability that would benefit/require fusion or other hardware, expect your recovery to take a little while. You will likely be restricted in the amount you will be allowed to bend over and/or lift. This will affect your ability to get in/out of most small GA planes/preflight such. Anticipate not flying for at least a week and potentially weeks. I've had a micro discectomy...about as benign of a spinal procedure as they come. I would have been grounded for a few weeks due to range of motion restrictions. I have assisted in many spinal procedures and took care of the patients post operatively and, short of a microdiscectomy, expect at least a few weeks of grounding.
 
Recently had my second surgery for this situation. Recovery time was at least 6 months.

Both surgeries did absolutely nothing to relieve the pain and other symptoms.

Had a similar experience with my neck surgery. No relief from pain or symptoms.

At the real heart of the problem is the medical professions inability to identify exactly what is causing the pain.

In my last surgery my column was restricted and supposedly pressing on the nerves. So they opened it up. It did nothing for the pain. Just because they show you a problem on an X-ray or MRI doesn't mean that's what causing your problem.

The general opinion in the industry is that 50% of spinal surgeries do not help the problem.

30% show some or complete improvement.

20% make the problem worse.

Imo you need to be at the very end of your rope (pain and mobility are completely dominating your life) before you consider surgery. Then set your expectations low.

Exhaust ALL non-surg. options before considering it.

Just my experience and opinion. Don't care if you agree or disagree.
 
I had a micro discectomy as well. Doc said 10 lbs/1 mo. 20 lbs/2 mo. 30 lbs/3 months.

Long story short, I did EXACTLY as he said… grounded myself all three months. Super benign procedure, but I was still down 3 months (NO WAY was I gonna aggravate my back and reclaim the IMMENSE pain I was in before and 100 percent incapacitation).

I reported it on next medical blah blah. Didn’t so much as get a “hmmm” out of it. Just a nothing burger.

Hope you experience the success I had. There are HORROR stories…. I agree with above, surgery is last ditch, but I started there, really didn’t have a choice.
 
Early this year I had sciatica; I had moved more than two tons of flooring up a flight of stairs, and installed it (it was very difficult to get it together, so I spent much time scooting on my behind.) After healing for a few weeks, I fell doing something stupid, and it got really bad—same shooting pain, etc.
Off to the doctor. Exactly where the nerve pinch occurred, we don't know.
But I lost weight (modified Mediterranean, 30 lbs gone), did all kinds of PT stretching, etc., started exercising again, and slowly all of the pain went away.
I do have "foot drop" from nerve damage, that can take months to never to get better.
Surgery was off the table, as everyone I know (including mom) who's had surgery had minimal improvement.
There is no such thing as "minor" back surgery, and if you smoke, well, look that up.
That is why we didn't explore where the problem arose more deeply (as improvement was happening.) A benefit of seeing my doctor for evaluation was finding out I have prostate cancer. Yeah, that's an actual benefit.
 
Most lower back pain like you describe originates at the facets at L4, L5, and S1. Treatment may be as simple as radio frequency ablation of the affected nerves. A pain management physician is who I’d suggest you see. Cutting is the last resort.
 
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