Hi softball 11,
I had severe lower back problems which affected my legs so badly I couldn't walk more than 20 steps without stretching down to my toes to take the pressure off the nerves. Also had bad sciatica , and spinal claudication ( like charlie horse cramps in buttocks and calf muscles so I couldn't stand for more than a minute.) tried PT, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, but nothiing gave permanent relief.Turned out to be stenosis and disc problems.
MRI showed my spine "was a mess" and surgeon said I needed a fusion or I'd be in a wheel chair permanently within 5 years.. Instead I had Lumbar laser surgery at LSI in Tampa. Took 1 hr. with a 1 inch cut to allow t room for the laser and I was walking within 2 hr. of rest. Needle in the arm allowed me to be able to talk to surgeons. but had no pain.
This was in Jan. Today I am walking regularly, over a mile at a time or longer if I want to. The only pain I have left is some claudication, which I may have a bit more surgery for. so I take entrophen and it helps.
In canada we get no assistance and it is costly, but contrary to "expert nerosurgeons" it is not a gimmick. I have my life back as do many hundreds of others.
You can check all this info out at the site called LSI.
