Part 3 - Surgical Treatments for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Question: is a MILD Procedure indicated if the L-3, L4 Radio Frequency Ablation that I had 12 days ago doesn't work and if I'm still in pain?
M

I am terrified to do surgery 😥 but I think it might have to come to that. Without the cordizone shot. Its hard to walk without my back twitching and wanting to make me fall. I am scared to sneeze or even cough cuz it can bring me to my knees if im not laying down already or laying my stomach on the counter or table. Im sad.😔

How would you like to be me . 4 years with severe lumbar stenosis no treatement now have toilet problems i believe this could end my suffering . Is great Britain great , its where I live

Hi Brian. I have a lot to thank you for. You gave me the encouragement to have spinal decompression of L2/3 & L3/4. The op was a complete success. It was done 3 weeks ago and already I can walk and stand like I did 5 years ago. I owe you a million thanks for the good advice. My life is nearly back to normal. Thank you, Mike from the UK.

Hello everyone, I was a bit scared after my surgery with the pains i was feeling.
My surgeon changed meds and increased few days to my stay in the States for the incision site to heal well and was ok to travel back to my country.
My surgen also followed up with my specialist here in Ghana. I didn't need any meds again and started feeling really better almost after months.
The surgery worked and it was like magical. Now back and very active than before. All my leg pains and its associated tingling and numbness, etc are gone. I sometimes even forget that i ever had such severe pains and sleepless nights. In fact the surgery was the best solution because i had tried all the possible treatments and didn't work until finally watching Dr. Su's video and made a decision for the surgey.
Thank you Doc and wishing all those considering this surgery as treatment option, the best of luck. Sometimes, it may take a while but you will be better again. 😅

Thank you, very helpful for understanding the surgery.

Great video Doctor Su!!

I have spinal stenosis I struggle everyday in paralysing pain. This year I will be having spinal stenosis surgery and I am greatful I can be helped. Blessings from UK.

OMG....I want to see you with the knowledge I have. My doctor sucks

Where do u work out of? Anywhere near Northern Indiana

Wow
Thanks for taking away the mystery. I’m looking at surgery on L2-L5.

I have stenosis, degenerative, osteoarthritis and compression. My Dr told me that there was no surgery to fix it or make it better. I've been suffering with this for almost two years just to find out I was lied too! 😢really

I was told i need back fushion inside and outsude for l 5 only where im bone on bone. Is there anything less invasive and less downtime for me? Thank you , excrllent

I had a laminectomy 5 days ago. I want to thank Dr. Su for the best and clearest explanation of the surgery. (I watched dozens of videos.) I also had a dural tear which was no fun. I’m now 5 days postoperative and still in pain but getting better each day. I no longer have my sciatica! Thanks for the info doc!

I am 56 and have had back pain since my teenage years due to sports, weight training, being stupid, etc. In my 50s now, I suspect I am developing LSS. I was diagnosed with DDD in December and I have been in PT for about two weeks now. I am going the route of lifestyle changes first (PT, Weight Loss, Anti Inflamatories). My question is - are you familiar with "space creating" surgical options now (as opposed to bone removal - the one I have seen is called "Vertiflex") Are these effective? What are the potential dangers/down-sides to this type of MIS for back pain. Thank you for you content, it has been immensely helpful in understanding my back pain.

Sir, Is there any way to try and get a consultation with you at your office?

Sir l4 l5 s1 surgery when disk cut after some time disk again no or yes plz reply me I do not correct English

My VA doctor just emailed and said this “I would not say you have lumbar spinal stenosis, but rather congenital lumbar stenosis.”

What’s the difference/prognosis/treatments?

Thanks for the info.

Great explanation for spine surgery.Wish DR SU was in the New Jersey area

Could you explain what you mean by buttock pain?
As with sciatic pain or something different?
Thank you 😊

Could someone please Address how much pain is normal after laminectomy at L4 five and S one? Plus they’re planning to send me home the same day after that he advice on that. Also, how do you wipe your bumm if you’re not allowed to twist?

Not that it matters since this is not my Dr but he lost me at these tools (you can clearly see with the naked eye) are microscopic. Just stupid. Not a guy I would let come within a 1000 feet of my spine.

Hi, its very informative , thanks for making video on this, Appreciated

Im getting this 😅

Thank You Dr. Su. You Have given me a lot More Peace. I've been Suffering for Over a Decade now. I'm trying to get insurance so I can Finally get the Care I need. Now for me I Already know I'm going to have Scarring tissues & Most likely the more Major surgery.
But if I can Remove Half if My Pains,😁😁😁 I'll be So much Happier. I Suffer Sever pains that's so much worse than before. The Squeezing pains have started now for a month or so. But off & on for a while. Just now I Cannot Go on with out help.
I've been Really Scared. For reasons Im not going to share.But I'm going to Make sure I have an Amazing Dr. Prayerfully one as good as you are. At least close.
Thank You for Taking Time to Give us More Info in an Honest,yet caring way. Wish there was More like you here in Tulsa. Anywhere Honestly.... You're More Rare than you know. God Bless You Always & your Loved ones too Thanks to u I know what I'm up against & Have more peace about it

Why aren't you using an ultrasonic tool to cut the bone?

I have to give my surgeon an answer next week. I have a severe case of Spinal Stenosis, with 2 discs slipping forward when I bend forward plus a cyst or something.
He's wanting to do surgery where he fuses the 2 discs plus put a cage there.
I am 57 years old and I am nervous.
My fears are that I will be limited on what I can do, I am in pain; but I deal with it and accomodate by siting and standing in intervals.
He says minimum of 50% less pain and do what I'm doing now.
Is this possible? Your thoughts

40% chance you hurt like hell the rest of your life. 2% chance you die within 3 years.

Excellent Video... I have these same 3 areas. Sadly, In Canada here I bet we won't have this Procedure available for SEVERAL years we are sooooo Behind with Technology and Specialists.

Informed patients can make better decisions for their health care. L4 is over L5 now due to a fall. Foot drop in LEFT foot. On walker to walk. Surgery go through stomach and then back metal plate. I'm very confused but I need help. Thanks for
Explaining thoroughly.

Do you do also do minimally invasive ultrasonic surgery for spinal stenosis? My understanding is this procedure is safer because the chance of damaging a nerve is lessened.

It could be done by laser disc decopression ? Instead laminectomy or im wrong?

I had the Laminectomy surgery L4,L5,S1. I had been suffering for about 7 months with butt and leg pain to the point where I couldn’t walk more than 30-40 steps without resting. The pain was eliminated almost immediately except for the area of incision. I am almost 4 weeks out now and getting my strength back. Still no bending, lifting or twisting. Started to drive after 1 week. Looking forward to a full recovery.

Excellent, most helpful. Thank you.

Hello Dr. Su, greetings from across the pond (Luxembourg).
I am so glad I came up to your channel after doing a very thorough research regarding surgical procedures and other methods to alleviate the spinal stenosis condition.
You explain extremely clearly everything about it and I am very grateful to know understand what is that I am expecting to happen when I go into the surgery room in a few weeks.
Being 70 years old, I must be honest and tell you that I am very scared about the operation, treatment and recovery. I have always been very active and love jogging, cycling and trekking. I am not sure if I will be able to do all a that again. Fear and depression are continuously in my mind….
Thanks again for your great teachings.

My only concern is finding a surgeon who will not do a good job and I end up worse.

Really helpful. I have just had a percutaneous disectomy (July 2024) sadly made no difference. L4/L5, L5/S1 bi lateral. Next up decompression by taking bone away.

Very good explanation. Thankyou fr your valuable information. I wonder how much is the medical surgery like lumbar spine stenosis?

I had a bilateral discectomy, laminectomy and foramenotomy (not sure if ive spelt that wrong) and the surgeon never told me what he did, the physio 4 weeks later told me what he did but couldnt explain it clear enough for me so this video has helped me understand a lot! Was L4L5S1

This is what I need but fighting doctors to take it seriously and getting insurance to pay for it. Hoping I can get it soon. Hard to drive anywhere and walking painful much of the day. Had a friend have it done and she's doing great

I have pain in the right buttock and runs down my right thigh do you think I could do vertiflex

as someone who was diagnosed with a herniated l5 s1 , i am greatful to find clear and easy to follow information, I am still scared going forward, but thes videos help me feel much better. thanks doc.

Can you recommend a Doctor in South Africa that is good to do the op for me. Please

Why don't you use a less dangerous ultrasonic scalpel that won't harm the nerves now that it has been around for years now!? NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE?!

I need to have my pain fixed I have L4 L5 S1 lumbar plus herniated. They won’t operate to take this pressure off. So 10 yrs I’ve been like this they just give me gabapentin and at times requiring a cortisone needles and this doesn’t last so now I’m 69 yrs I can hardly walk more than 20 mins my legs are heavy my feet ache. I did nursing physically for years just finished work recently because I was not managing balance having a lot of instability I don’t have any pain in joints bar my back pain. Why don’t the doctors look at the root of the problem. You are a wonderful surgeon and talk sense. I need this to happen so I can have the quality of life. I’ve had physio and hydrotherapy and at least walk 20 mins staggering after my walk. I live in Sydney because we have a long waiting list in our hospitals i was with Nepean Hospital Sydney NSW. Yes I can feel a nerve like sciatica right thru left leg. My neurologist looked at my X-rays this is what he said you could be waiting months so I’d like you to take 300 mg a day of gabapentin. I’ve got worse I’m actually using my walker to get about. Sleepless nights because the pain is always there. Just want to be more active and free of pain. Ridiculous how this specialist has dealt with this. I’ve also had two knee surgeries as well but left leg and lumbar sciatica and herniated disc in spine. Quality of life is what I choose.

Thank you for this excellent explanation!