That's right, re: the stenosis.  I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis at C3
through C5 and have just had surgery last month for it.  The stenosis
affected my arms, causing them to ache and get weaker.  It also created new
muscle spasticity in my left leg where there was very little before, and a
spastic bladder.  Now, a month and a half after the surgery, my leg is back
to its pre-spastic state and my bladder is back to normal.  However the CP
is still present in my legs, particularly the right one which is rigidly
spastic.  The neurosurgeon said the surgery would bring me back to my
pre-stenosis state, and he was right; it's not a cure for CP, and I wasn't
expecting it to be such.

Anyhow, I am doing much better, although I must still wear a soft collar for
another month.  At least the weather's cooler!  That thing can get hot, I
can tell you! The only problem is, I am now bored and am soooo ready to go
back to work, which is not until Oct.29th.


        Kathy S.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Elizabeth H. Thiers" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 7:48 AM
Subject: Re: where are y'all?


> Backs aren't my specialty but, I can do a little translation.  Stenosis is
> just constricting or narrowing of an opening.  The right neural exit
> foramina is where the nerve comes out the spinal cord, you probably have
> more pain on the right than left side?  The stenosis is probably
> inflammation, disk bulges can press on the nerves and spinal cord
depending
> on where the weakness is.  It sounds like most of yours is on the R. side.
> Chiropractic is good if you have a doctor who also prescribes you exercise
> afterwards to strengthen the muscles they just stretched out of wack with
> their manipulations.
> Sounds like the doc is trying to catch this at a still treatable stage
with
> the injections.  The injections could help the inflammation.
>
> Beth the OT
>
> email address: [log in to unmask]
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Cleveland, Kyle E.
> Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2001 1:52 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: where are y'all?
>
>
> Same here, re: height.  I used to be a solid 6'1".  Now, I'm barely 6'.
>
> Got a question for y'all (Joy, you might be interested in this too, seeing
> as how you've had related problems of late):
>
> I've have pretty severe back pain/spasms for a few years and have been
> seeing a pain specialist who has me on a handfull of narcotics and
Zanaflex.
> He had been doing some head scratching over my DX and I allowed that I'd
not
> had an MRI in a few years.  Doc agreed that imaging might help with DX, so
> this is what the radiologist said after my lumbar MRI:
>
> (Not the full text, but his synopsis--
>
> "Diffuse disk bulges at L3-4 and L4-5, right lateral disk bulge at L1-2
and
> right lateraldisk herniation at L2-3.  There is associated moderate spinal
> stenosis at L1-2,L3-4,L4-5 with mild spinal stenosis at L2-3.  There is
> encroachment of the right neural exit foramina from L1-2 through L4-5.
There
> is a minor disk protrusion at L5-S1."
>
> Can someone help me unravel this DX and give me a bit of a prognosis
(based
> on experience)?  The ONE treatment option he offered was epidural
injections
> of cortico-steroids bi-weekly for three treatments, then see where we are
at
> this point. Have any of you had this treatment and/or similar DX?  If
you've
> had the epidural protocol, did you consider it a "success".  If you
obtained
> relief from pain/spasms, how long did this relief last?  Anybody take the
> surgical route?
>
> Thanks for the info!
>
> -Kyle
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Barber, Kenneth L. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2001 6:57 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: where are y'all?
>
>
> it would be interesting to lots of the people on the list to know what can
> happen in ten years.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Magenta Raine [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Monday, October 15, 2001 2:37 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: where are y'all?
>
>
> I was part of a CP and aging study recently, follow up from ten yrs ago
...
> well, the biggest surprise was that I'm now only 5 ft 4 instead of 5 ft
> 6....
> Must be my legs and or neck have shrunk.
>
> The results of the overall study will be sent to me.
>
> Love,
> mag