I have been suffering with my back for 25 years now and it's getting worse day by day. I have seen countless specialist and consultants and none of them have come to a conclusion, or a definitive answer to my pain. Back in September 2006 I seen a consultant who for the first time actually spotted something with my back which no other consultant or specialist have before, but declined to actually tell me what it was until I had a MRI Lumbar Scan.
I was put on a 9 months waiting list and I have just found out that I could have had this scan sooner because the hospital do these scans in the evenings, which meant I could have had this scan done months ago instead of waiting 5 months. I believe, I have diagnosed my condition, although I will have to wait for the MRI Lumbar Scan results first, but... I am 99.9% sure it's Spinal Stenosis.
As I was reading through the diagnosis of Spinal Stenosis I could not believe what I was reading, the description was me. Everything that was in the diagnosis was me down to the fact I cannot stand for long periods of time because my back starts to hurt so much, the numbness across the lower back and the pain across the shoulders was the same. I know you should not diagnose your own medical problems and should seek professional medical advise, it could be somthing else causing this pain I don't know until I have the scan and then await to see the consultant again.
I will just have to wait for the MRI Lumber Scan and then the results, which is the part I'm dreading because I hope it's nothing life threatening.
Hello and welcome to the boards. I am also very interested in what is going on with me so I read up on the internet trying to diagnose myself untill I get an answer, I see nothing wrong with that. I have diagnosed myself many times before getting into the doctor. I have over 30 years of back problems, one herniated disk, then surgery and since then, I have problems standing too long. I was told I had stenosis by the surgeon when I had surgery but he didn't know if it was caused by the herniation or not as I hadn't had the surgery yet. I am now reading up on facet joint problems because I am now having pain daily just sitting. You may want to come to the back board section and post this also, there are alot of people on there too that are going through this. Keep posting and let us know what you find out, we are all here for you. These boards are what keeps alot of people going and a huge help to many people. The people here understand what you are going through.
Hi Jonessie, welcome from another newbie to these boards. Everyone here has been so helpful to me, and I know they'll do the same for you.
I also just got an MRI done and was diagnosed with moderate spinal stenosis, albeit for me it's cervical rather than lumbar. I can't believe you had to wait so long! I actually got rushed down to radiology straight from my doctor's office during my initial visit, so I guess I assumed everyone had that kind of service. Of course, that could mean my doc was really worried, lol.
I found out about my MRI results because I bugged my doctor's tech to read me my results over the phone, so of course I then immediately hit google and these boards with the info to try to learn more. So I know what you mean when you say you know you shouldn't diagnose your own medical problems but can't help it. We're curious creatures.
I wish I could actually help you with it, but I'm pretty clueless medically speaking. Several board members have been wonderful with explaining stenosis though, and sharing their experiences living through it. So for me, I'm "with you in spirit". I share some of your symptoms from the narrowing of the spinal canal. I also have radiating lower back pain, although the upper back gives me more trouble. I also have pain and burning across the shoulders as well tingling and numbness in my arm and hand. I spent an hour in the gym tonight on the treadmill and was so disappointed in the slow speed I had to take to be able to manage and keep the pain to a minimum. I'm struggling with the whole "taking it easy" thing until I get more info from my doctor.
I don't know about you, but I am so very anxious to get back into my doctor's office to discuss it in more detail. Feb. 22 can't come soon enough for me so I can learn exactly how this is impacting me, both now and my future. I'm trying to think positive about what my outcome is, so you do the same. I'll support you and you can support me through this. Good luck with your results! When do you expect to get them? Keep us posted.
Dear Jonessie,
I Also Have Spinal Stenosis, I've Only Suffered With It For 7 Years, Do You Have Redness In Your Lower Legs? I Have Been Looking For Others Who Have This Symptom. I Have Given Up On Doctors, They Won't Tell Me What Stage My Problems Are In, They Don't Want To Try Any Thing But Total Lumbar Fusion. So I Am Going To Pain Management Now, But Feel They Too Won't Give Me Straight Answers. At Least They Are Trying Something. PLEASE UP DATE US ON YOUR DX, AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
Last edited by stoutsabout2; 03-26-2007 at 04:00 PM.
Reason: FORGOT SOME WORDS
Hi, Ihave spinal stenosis in lower back. I have had MRI and a myelgram. I am going to dr. on Tuesday APril 10th to see if he thinks I should consider another laminectomy. I had one nine years ago and was doing fine til Feb. of this year. I have groin pain, lower back pain, and numbness. Although I can walk longer after I have had 8 weeks of phys. therapy, I am plagued by pain where my leg connects to my body. I am not sure if it is related. I do have arthritis there, but dr. said I do not need hip replacement, he suspects muscle strain. Hmmm. Anyone else have these kind of symptoms?
Hi Jonessie, welcome from another newbie to these boards. Everyone here has been so helpful to me, and I know they'll do the same for you.
I also just got an MRI done and was diagnosed with moderate spinal stenosis, albeit for me it's cervical rather than lumbar. I can't believe you had to wait so long! I actually got rushed down to radiology straight from my doctor's office during my initial visit, so I guess I assumed everyone had that kind of service. Of course, that could mean my doc was really worried, lol.
I found out about my MRI results because I bugged my doctor's tech to read me my results over the phone, so of course I then immediately hit ****** and these boards with the info to try to learn more. So I know what you mean when you say you know you shouldn't diagnose your own medical problems but can't help it. We're curious creatures.
I wish I could actually help you with it, but I'm pretty clueless medically speaking. Several board members have been wonderful with explaining stenosis though, and sharing their experiences living through it. So for me, I'm "with you in spirit". I share some of your symptoms from the narrowing of the spinal canal. I also have radiating lower back pain, although the upper back gives me more trouble. I also have pain and burning across the shoulders as well tingling and numbness in my arm and hand. I spent an hour in the gym tonight on the treadmill and was so disappointed in the slow speed I had to take to be able to manage and keep the pain to a minimum. I'm struggling with the whole "taking it easy" thing until I get more info from my doctor.
I don't know about you, but I am so very anxious to get back into my doctor's office to discuss it in more detail. Feb. 22 can't come soon enough for me so I can learn exactly how this is impacting me, both now and my future. I'm trying to think positive about what my outcome is, so you do the same. I'll support you and you can support me through this. Good luck with your results! When do you expect to get them? Keep us posted.
Hi, I'm very new to the boards,I recently got an mri, I was in a head on collision back in aug.2006. My neck was broke at c1&c2 ,both legs were crushed and my left arm was crushed. They did 8 sugerys I also got a little brain dammage.I got my mri on April 3of 2007. My results really fliped me out here is what the impression said{Degenerative disc osteophyte complexes at c5-6 and c6-7 causes critical central spinal stenosis. So I a little scared.
I share some of your symptoms from the narrowing of the spinal canal. I also have radiating lower back pain, although the upper back gives me more trouble. I also have pain and burning across the shoulders as well tingling and numbness in my arm and hand. I spent an hour in the gym tonight on the treadmill and was so disappointed in the slow speed I had to take to be able to manage and keep the pain to a minimum. I'm struggling with the whole "taking it easy" thing until I get more info from my doctor.
Re: Spinal Stenosis 
