Spinal stenosis!

[Tamora Retired Super Moderator Member of the Month Aug 2015 PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close Tamora]

I'm currently awaiting an operation for spinal stenosis. I saw my consultant surgeon 2 days ago and he asked me some questions relating to my libido, erections and toilet habits that, until that moment, I had never thought might be related to the problem with my spine.

I have now realized that my libido is practically zero, I never get spontaneous erections or "morning wood" and when I pee it isn't the strong stream that it used to be. I had always put these things down to "getting older" rather than maybe being caused by the stenosis.

Has anyone had experience of the operation and improvements in these areas post operation, or any other comments or suggestions?

[Cavalier Retired Super Moderator Member of the Month Feb 2015PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close Cavalier]

Well that is interesting. I have had two back surgeries and still have periods of severe back pain. Maybe my problems are not do to age also.

[Tamora Retired Super Moderator Member of the Month Aug 2015 PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close Tamora]

Well that is interesting. I have had two back surgeries and still have periods of severe back pain. Maybe my problems are not do to age also.

Do you/did you have similar symptoms to me?

[BigO AdministratorPEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close BigO]

I have recently had to rounds of cortisone injections and just yesterday had my first medial branch block and go for one next week. I am on your path.

I have not had libido problems but the spinal cord and all the nerves can create different issues for all of us.

Hopefully it may help you, I will pray for your health in all aspects of your life.

[Cavalier Retired Super Moderator Member of the Month Feb 2015PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close Cavalier]

Do you/did you have similar symptoms to me?

Yes, I have had some EQ and libido problems. I assumed that it was due to age, pain and pain medications,

[Tamora Retired Super Moderator Member of the Month Aug 2015 PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close Tamora]

I have recently had to rounds of cortisone injections and just yesterday had my first medial branch block and go for one next week. I am on your path.

I have not had libido problems but the spinal cord and all the nerves can create different issues for all of us.

Hopefully it may help you, I will pray for your health in all aspects of your life.

Thank you for your kind words sir. The feelings are mutual.

In my case I was offered an epidural with steroid injections as a first option. When I had them it was like a mini miracle but only lasted for about a month and I never noticed any difference in libido, etc. The problem is that the waiting time for the epidural is about 11 weeks, so my thoughts were to opt for the operation and I don't really like the thought of being pumped full of steroids every couple of months.

[Tamora Retired Super Moderator Member of the Month Aug 2015 PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close Tamora]

Yes, I have had some EQ and libido problems. I assumed that it was due to age, pain and pain medications,

Might be an idea to discuss these potentially related problems with your doc? I was amazed at the amount of associated problems reeled off to me by my surgeon that can occur with these back problems.

[BigO AdministratorPEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close BigO]

Have you tried a chiropractor. Mine is a miracle worker. Her knowledge is mind blowing.

[closed224 Senior Member Member of the Month Dec 2014, Feb 2017 Find all posts View Profile Close closed224]

There is a map of which nerves come out of which vertebrae. This can show you where your injury is likely to impact. I have 10 different vertebrae that are messed up. Sometimes depending on which one flares the worst is what causes different parts of my body to misbehave. It makes sense when you think about a quadrapalegic having a spinal break high enough to shut down the entire body.
I feel for you guys also, and Cortisone can only be used 3 times per year if I remember correctly. It cause softening of the ligaments etc. I have been avoiding surgeries for years, but may end up with going that path. So far the neurologist is against it because of the number of impacted areas.
My brother had a titanium basket put in his neck and is loving it.

[Tamora Retired Super Moderator Member of the Month Aug 2015 PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close Tamora]

Have you tried a chiropractor. Mine is a miracle worker. Her knowledge is mind blowing.

It actually took well over a year to get my condition properly diagnosed following my persistence of almost demanding an MRI. It was originally put down to sciatica and I was offered physiotherapy which for me was a total waste of time.

I have thought about seeing a chiropractor but for some strange reason this isn't properly recognized by the NHS yet and I can't afford to go private.

[Tamora Retired Super Moderator Member of the Month Aug 2015 PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close Tamora]

There is a map of which nerves come out of which vertebrae. This can show you where your injury is likely to impact. I have 10 different vertebrae that are messed up. Sometimes depending on which one flares the worst is what causes different parts of my body to misbehave. It makes sense when you think about a quadrapalegic having a spinal break high enough to shut down the entire body.
I feel for you guys also, and Cortisone can only be used 3 times per year if I remember correctly. It cause softening of the ligaments etc. I have been avoiding surgeries for years, but may end up with going that path. So far the neurologist is against it because of the number of impacted areas.
My brother had a titanium basket put in his neck and is loving it.

Ouch...I feel your pain!

I was also amazed at some of the potential side effects of surgery. Apart from my balls dropping off some of them are severe headaches, morphine drips, incontinence, leaking spinal fluid, "floppy" foot (as he put it) or a limp, everything seems pretty straightforward really...lol. Seriously though...the risk of any of those is very small so I'll just have to put my faith in his expertise...he said he's done over 300 similar operations and he's only had one person who's lost their testicles!

I'm hoping I'll wake up with a big boner!