Question: i was medically retired from the civil service due to degenerative disc desease with cervical and lumber spinal stenosis 12 years ago. my neurosurgeon said at the time my chances were only 45% with possible wheelchair use if operated on, he said i had the back of a 70 year old women.
i recieved lumber epidurel and approx 8 injections around top of back for some years. i now have osteopenia. at the moment my GP prescribes gabapentin, co-codomal with diazapam. i went for review over a year ago and a new neuorsurgeon couldn't understand why i didn't have the operation on diagnosis. i explained the percentage to him etc and that i thought it best as did my neurosurgeon at the time not the operate. he said he would see me again if needed. this last 2 years have been getting more and more difficult for me. i have pain in neck, shoulders, left arm numbness with tingling in the hands that have gotten much worse and my passion for reading ( i believe this causes me more intense pain in left leg and upper neck and back ) and doing anything really. my lower spine affects me in many ways, sitting propped with pillows, weak legs, lately my feet are very painful as i feel i am walking over tiny stones in my bare feet. the ball of the right foot goes into terrible cramp type pain and i have to take my shoes off and stand on flat surface for it to return to normal (embarrasing!) i find it hard to lift anything of significant weight, with general weakness throughout the body. my posture is beginning to very quickly in the last 6 months stoop forward. i also have a curvature around my bra strap. i really hate this life, i worked for 30 years as a full time civil servant at the same time as having four children and also worked for 2 charities. i was a bit of a workaholic but was so fit there just weren't enought hours in the day for me and i enjoyed this life very much. i hate always being at home, hate housework of any kind, hate the person i have become as i feel lazy and depressed, i would give anything for a new back, do you think i should take a chance and have an operation? i am barely 7 stone (eat because i have to) i just want to be the happy go lucky person i was again. i am depressed with these pains, i refuse morphine as i know i will never get out of bed. i am 60 years old on 27 october this year. this cold weather has started and i will probably be housebound for most of the winter. i doubt i could live with a wheelchair. should i take a risk? could i have my life back? i live not far from BELFAST and my hospital is THE ROYAL XXXXXXX HOSPITAL in Belfast.

thank you so very much for your reply, just reading it reminds me of how i once had a happy and painfree life. has spinal surgery changed so much over the past 12 years that my operation would be entirely different now from then?
i must mention my muscles throughout the body have already wasted away. i mentioned my foot pains, i am pain free when leaving my home and within a short distance the SOLES ONLY are unbearable especially the ball of the right foot. is this caused by spine or something else? My hands are frozen and numb on a moderately cold day and i cannot seem to be able to use my fingers to write or get money from purse etc as my fingers have no feeling, could this also be the spine? i have a red rash under the skin on the palms of both hands (upper inside palms below wrist when holding toward me) what is this, it goes from pink to red at anytime. would the 'minimal amount of risk' you mention include the possibility of a wheelchair? or would that be only if something went wrong as can happen?