<p>I have just set up my first appt with the Surgeon for next Thursday and had a question for those of you in this forum.</p> <p>I am wondering if anyone else had a problem with being limited in the amount of exercise they were able to do.</p> <p>Besides the obesity, I have two things going against me. I have suffered from severe back pain since 2004. By definition my condition is called Lumbar stenosis, a bone build up along the spine. To make matters worse I was hospitalized in April with A-Fib and congestive heart failure.</p> <p>My Cardiologists has me limited to keep my heart rate down due to the A-Fib. I ride a stationary bike for ten minutes daily and it feels like my heart will jump out of my chest. When my wife told my doctor this he instructed me to cut it back to 5 to 7 minutes. I am concerned that I am not exercising enough to meet the citeria set for the surgery.</p>

I was told no Crunches for at least a year.

:welcomeB: I was diagnosed in 2000 with severe spinal stenosis.

I think that the worst consequence is the muscle weakness resulting from nerve damage. Is your pain mostly in your legs? I also have no remaining cartilage in my knees so between the two issues, I really have trouble exercising. I'm very fortunate to have a healthy heart. I didn't realize how healthy until I had the tests for the surgery (stress echo and nuclear scan).

I wish I could do cardio but at least I have been doing resistance bands and soon will be using small hand weights. My program includes consultation with an exercise physiologist and four classes that are very basic and designed for folks with morbid obesity. One is Water exercise, which may be our salvation. I haven't taken that one yet.

I know that my weight loss would be a little faster with more exercise but I am still losing. When I lose another 30 pounds or so I'm going to look into knee replacement.

I know that spinal stenosis is relatively common, but I have never spoken to someone else who had it. I would love to hear about your symptoms and how you cope with it on a daily basis. Do you respond to epidural steroid injections? Are you considering spinal fusion?

Are you approved by your cardiologist to have the surgery? I'm sorry to ask so many questions!

Good to here back from someone suffering with stenosis. I believe you are the first person who even heard of the word stenosis besides my medical providers. My biggest areas of pain are lower back and left leg. I found that the lower back pain isn't as severe when I lean forward. This seems to relieve to constant sharp pain in my back. I have a "shooting" pain down the left leg only.

I did get some relief from physical therapy but had to stop after 45 sessions because insurance would not pay any more. My Orthopedic doctor advised against surgery until: A) I was older than 50 or It was totaling unbearable for me to function.

I was recieving epidoral injections before I was diagnosed with A-Fibb. My Rhythym Specialist will not allow me to get off my Coumadin ( anti coagulant)for the 5 days prior to the injection. The injections were providing relief but this was only minimal for about 2 months. I also was taking Naproxan and Tramadol but had to discontinue these at the direction of my Cardiologist.

Yes my Cardiologist and the Cardio Rhythym Specialist are the ones to recommend me for the procedure.

Physical therapy helped with pain relief? Great to know. My pain was equal in both legs until last year when I began having severe shooting nerve pains in one that made my leg give way without any warning.

The type of pain varies--like the sensation d'jour--burning, throbbing, deep aching, tingling, shooting. I've tried neurontin, lyrica, the usual pain meds, and nothing helps. The ESI's have been helpful but I now only get about 5-6 weeks relief from each one.

I am terrified of spinal fusion since it seems to make symptoms worse just as often as it helps. The spinal surgeon said that it may be too late for the surgery to help the pain in my legs--it would however keep the condition from deteriorating to cauda equina syndrome.

Are your legs really weak? My quadriceps especially are weak so that I can't climb steps (unless I use my hands on the steps to propel myself upward).

I began seeing a chiropractor for the first time in January to undergo spinal decompression treatment and that has been somewhat helpful. Have you heard of it?

I sound like such a whiner! I'm just so glad to finally meet someone who understands! Let me know how Thursday's appointment goes.

I forgot to mention that my dad was diagnosed with A-Fib this year and because he also has a faulty aortic valve , his cardiologist put in a pacemaker, which is an unusual treatment. The office staff kept telling him how wonderful he would feel with the pacemaker but instead he is more tired than ever (but then he is 82).

Yes, physical therapy did help but it started out slow and painful.

My pain is just about same as how you described yours. My left leg does show signs of weakness. This was proven by some testing done with my Physical Therapist. This was done using various exercises with right, than the left leg to determine differences in strength. She told me everyone show some difference in strength between each leg, but not to the extent in differences between my two legs.

I actually asked my Doctor for the Spinal fusion surgery. My Wife had this type of surgery done approx. 5 years ago. She has a degenarative bone disease with required the two lowest discs in her back to be removed and fused with a wire mesh and bone filler. She is not totally without pain or problems, but she is in much better shape now than she was pre-surgery.

I agree with your assessment about the ESI's. Mine only last at most 2 months usually after the third shot (three shots every six months). It does not totally eliminate the pain, but dulls it so I can function. I have just returned from my appointment with my Cardio Rhythym Specialist. He has given me some good news. He has relented an will now let me get off the coumadin for the required 5 days pre-injection. I have already made the call to get the injection date set up.

Yes, I was using a Chiropractor in the begining before the stenosis was diagnosed. She became concerned because I showed minimal improvement. I was then instructed to visit with an Orthopedic Doctor for further treatment.

I'm so glad that you can have your ESI! All the better to walk the hospital corridors after surgery (which is encouraged). My next ESI is this Friday. After the initial 3 injections in 3 months I am on a schedule of one every 3 months (that may be due to limitations of insurance reimbursement).

I wish I weren't so anxious about fusion surgery. Mine would involve 2 steel rods and bone tissue taken from my pelvis, which I was told causes more pain than the surgery itself. I do prefer my bone to the alternative, which is cadaver bone.

I'm going to call tomorrow to schedule physical therapy for the following week when I'll be more comfortable from the ESI.

Is your user name short for Big Uncle?

Thanks, I'm pretty excited that I have the ok to get my ESI. I really wanted to call today and schedue the ESI, but I got swamped at work today and forgot to call. I will not forget to call tomorrow.

My wife had two small wire mesh discs inserted to replace her damaged discs. In these discs the Dr. packed them with crushed cadaver bone and wrapped them with thin strips of bone taken from her hip (Her major complaint was the pain in her hip). He then used two stainless steel strips of metal to secure the discs to the right and left side of her spine. Her time off from work should have been 10 weeks. She convinced the DR. to release her at about 5 1/2 weeks. She was their perfect patient. They even had her talk to a couple of patients that were unsure if they wanted to go thru with the surgery. When they seen she was 6 and 7 weeks post op they were amazed how well she was able to move around.

As for your question about Big Unc. Yes it is for Big Uncle. I am probably the biggest (tallest and widest) person in my family. I am 6'1" and 395lbs. My family and friends all call me that.

My wife and I have 13 nieces and nephews between our brothers and they all call me Big Unc.

No crunches for a year?

How am I suppose to get me a six pack?

That's terrible!