Elderly DF aged 80 - spinal surgery?

[sarahsandup]

Hi all,
I don't know if anyone has any experience of this or know of someone..DF age 80 is due to have spinal surgery next year for narrowing of his spine (spinal stenosis).
He needs it as he has been having trouble with back pain and leg numbness for quite some time now, he's also on strong painkillers which obviously have side effects.

Has anyone seen an elderly relative after this surgery? What was recovery like? Did they find their problems were cured?

Also, DF is one of life's doers and despite being in pain still doesn't sit still. I am wondering if he should be resting more?

Hopeful bump

one of mum's friends had this at 80 I believe

she did well with it. She lives abroad now and is 87 so is now having to use a rollator but that may be more age related

she was well when I saw her last about two years ago and at that time was using a stick

it definitely gave her her normal standard of life back for a while and I know she felt it was worth it.

In hindsight I wish I’d encouraged my elderly relative to have different but ultimately significant surgery in their eighties. We were hesitant about the general anaesthetic, and they decided not to have the operation. But it’s meant they’ve become increasingly disabled and reliant on help - which probably wouldn’t have been the case to the same extent if the original problem had been fixed.

My mum had it done twice at different spinal levels, in her early/mid 60's and mid 70's. The first time it really knocked her mentally (it was before she had a dementia diagnosis) though she mostly got it all back after a few weeks and it was worth it for the improvement in her pain.
The second time it was really tough, and her mental status never came back to preop. Physically, it didn't help possibly because she just couldn't comply with the physio

Thanks all for the insights.

My parent had this at 81 and it made a huge difference to their mobility. They were up and about in their own home the day after and the only side effect has been a numb toe and a little pins and needles in one foot occasionally but they were warned this could happen. I have no doubt without it they would now be in a wheelchair or a care home but they have been able to maintain their independence since.

Can anyone else offer some insight?

Anyone?