I've been unable to walk for nine years.

Hello Sarah

I just found you online here today... as I was reading an article from the Cleveland Clinic about my diagnosis. (Which is severe spinal stenosis)
I read with much interest your different articles here. Maybe I should first tell you a bit about myself and my problem. I had lumbar laminectomy diskectomy surgery back in January 2005. (L4/L5) I had worked for physicians for 30 years before my surgery. At the time of surgery I was 52 yrs old. I haven't worked a day since the surgery. Cannot walk across he street or stand up and hug my husband. I am in excruciating pain 24 hrs a day. I sleep (if you want to call it that in my recliner.) Haven't had 8 hrs sleep since before the surgery. Cannot sleep in my bed. The pain is too severe. When I walk I walk completely bent over. It is hell on my neck, my shoulders and my lungs...of all things...(I have asthma). I have a 7 yr old granddaughter and she has never seen her Meemah upright. She asked me the other day if I was ever able to stand up straight. The question about broke my heart. I'm sorry... I'm wandering here.

An orthopedic surgeon I went to for a consult recently told me that the only way I will ever get any relief is if I have fusion surgery. The thought of surgery again scares me to death. The first surgery I had left me in this horrid condition. I am frozen in fear contemplating surgery again. I recently bought an inversion table thinking that would help me. Didn't realize at that time that I am unable to lie flat on my back. It is totally impossible for me to do. And once I get down on the floor it's almost impossible for me to get up again.

My question to you is a two-fold one. What do you think of the orthopods suggestion that fusion is my only solution to finding a good quality of life again for myself...? and secondly do YOU know of anything I could try to give me back my quality of life...??... back to where I can be with my family again on all their activities...?? instead of always having to stay behind at home while they all go out and enjoy life??

P.S. I thought I'd just TRY it...I tried to get down on the floor and tried the 'knees rocking' exercise. OMG fuhgetta bout it! Will never happen. Couldn't even begin to get my arms wrapped around my knees... the pain was too intense just laying there on my side on the floor. Totally impossible.


So....in summing up my sordid state of affairs... I don't know if you can suggest anything to help me. I really want the rest of my years on this planet to be enjoyed with my family members. I want to be able to walk around the block. I want to be able to ride bikes with my kids, I want to be able to go shopping and be able to stand and look through the racks of clothes like I used to be able to do. So many things, so many activities I think about are just dreams nowadays.


Thank you Sarah for listening. I hope and pray you can suggest something that would actually help me to have a normal life again.

Just call me "Roberta in Clearwater, Florida".


Thank you for your time.


Sincerely,

Roberta Allen
msbobster@tampabay.rr.com