Re: Fw: spinal stenosis & parkinsons

["Robert M. Johnson" <johnson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Bruce,

I was diagnosed about 13 months ago with congenital lumbar spinal stenosis. I
got two opinions and both neurosurgeons agreed on the diagnosis and both
recommended a multi-level laminectomy. I opted for a more conservative approach
of a series of epidurals in conjunction with physical therapy. I had four
epidurals. The first was less than helpful. The last three--performed at a
different clinic--were mildly helpful providing some incremental relief. The
epidurals were given approximately 3-4 weeks apart. I worked very hard
at physical therapy with a therapist who was a spinal specialist and consummed
more ibuprophen than I care to think about. It took me 53 weeks before my
sciatic pain/numbness and buttocks pain was really diminished to the point
where I felt healed. I still have occasional symptoms but nothing like what I
was feeling when I was first affected. That was truly extreme...and far more
disabling--though no less scairy--than my current stage 1 experience of
Parkinson's.

In retrospect, I think the physical therapy and the passing of time were the
key elements in recovering. The whole recovery process was 2 steps forward and
1.98 steps backward. I hope your recovery is much more rapid.

bob johnson 52/(3 weeks)         johnson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx