Question
I'm 81. Still make cardiovascular diagnostic
computers. Lower back pain for 40 years probably
due to water skiing injury. Bent double backwords.
Had sciatica (right leg) for about a year, then returned about a year ago in left leg. At times severe. Classic symptoms of "focal lumbar spinal
stenosis".  Pain almost disapears when bending
forward.  Seems like surgery is indicated.
What is your opinion on:
Endoscopic
Orthoscopic
Athroscopic
Microscopic
Laserscopic etc. ?
Also they are pushing noninvasve decompression
with a machine...DRX 9000.
Thanks for any enlightenment...  

Answer
Mr. Lyons:

Thanks for writing!

Since the injury very likely occured with bending backwards and it relieves the pain to bend forward, I would work on the forward positioning as much as possible before getting into more invasive methods.

There is a great book avilable by Dr. Batman*.*. He is the same doc who wrote the book " Your Body's Many Cries for Water". You can get it on Amazon or any book store. It is on back pain. In that book, he has a positioning exercise which seems specific to your condition. It involves laying face forward on four pillows. Very safe and cheap to do. Get the book and try that first.

Since it has been there forty years, you could probably put up with it a few days more!

I am not a surgeon. Generally, the longer one can avoid surgery the better. You have been wise in this regard, so try one more time.

There are certain chiropractors who work with a tehcnic that is safe and effective and can have the effect of bending the spine forward as you lay on the table with blocks under your hips. Or the table itself sometimes is used to bend one forward. It is called a flexion table.

Sometimes the table also streches the spine long ways, like the DRX 9000. Much cheaper and more effective and safer than the DRX 9000. The DRX 9000 is being promoted in a big money making effort, sell the patient about $3000 worth of treatment, then hire a high school girl to run the machine while the doctor does other things. It helps some people, but I do not think it does as much as they advertise it to do.

Try the pillow positioning first. If further relief is needed, go to www.sorsi.com and look for a good chiropractor near you. Before making an appintment ask them about "SOT Blocking" and flexion tables or flexion distraction tables.

Of course, as the years to by, one's water intake becomes more and more vital. What is old age of the body but a dehydration of the body?. Get filtered or spring water, never tap water. The Penta brand is the best. It is worth the price. Drink water at night, a lot of it, as well as during the day.

Let me know how it goes!

Dr. Rozeboom