Does anyone have it or know someone who does? I'm curious to learn how one lives with it. Thank you.

Dotsie, I have congenital spinal stenosis in my lower back. I live with it and take pain pills when necessary. I have to be careful of some things I do. Like lifting, standing and sitting.

What kind of questions do you have?

I know a young man who also has congenital spinal stenosis. He was just diagnosed. What do you think his quality of life will be in five to ten years?

Sorry to hear you also have it. At what age were you diagnosed?

My mother had surgery a few years back for spinal stenosis...at 80 she's way more active than I am...I think hers was more from wear and tear over the years...

Dotsie -

I was popping on to ask a similar question --- here's some very good information about it

http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/spinalstenosis/spinal_sten.htm

Vicki, thanks for sharing your story. I appreciate it. I had no idea you were wheelchair bound in the past. Wow, that must have been some great medication because I know you travel and get out to walk most days.

Lion, I guess we're here for the same reason. My thoughts and prayers are with them and you.

Thank you Dotsie

Although the doctor says this isn't inherited - I beg to differ. My mother has this and so did my grandfather. Grandpa was in his 80's before it "wheelchaired him" and my mom is 83 and living with this with minimal problems.

YET - neither of them did hard manual work - Several times a week at work I see wheelchair bound people due to this illness. I am so happy for Vickie that she has gotten past that - at least for now.

So my prayers are that college is in the near future. He is such a smart boy - it's a shame that money stands between him and school.

But, we both know that things will fall into place when the time is right. I happen to know a pretty smart lady that's watching over him and if anyone can figure out how to get him into college - it will be her

She'll do it. She'll get on that phone and computer and find a way.

I have spinal stenosis. Mine is in my neck vertebre and I had surgery to correct one area where it was severe. I had the scar tissue removed that was choking my spinal cord. I had fallen and that is how they found it. Because I feel and already had stenosis, I did damage to my cord before they found it. As soon as they found the stenosis, they did surgery to stop any cord damage and to save my life because my damage/stenosis, was in a high neck vertebre and it would have cut my cord in a place that I would not survive.
Because I've had stenosis once, chances are that I will have it again. When it shows again, I will have the surgery again to relieve the pressure on my cord. Now my stenosis is diagnosed as mild to moderate which is kind of normal for woman over 40. Being a dancer, it did me no good to take a slight damage in my cord but I am grateful they found it in time to save my life and allow me to walk, and move my arms and legs, even to dance.
But I am a chronic pain patient because of the cord damage and nerve damage from waiting too long for surgery.
Stenosis is cured by surgery but the scar tissue could cause you to need it a second time.
Most live with stenosis unless it is severe and the cord needs to be released.
How is that, Dotsie? If I can answer anymore questions, please let me know!
dancer9 On the internet because of stenosis.