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Hello Bruce, I was diagnosed about 13 months ago with congenital lumbar spinal stenosis. I got two opinions and both neurosurgeons agreed on the diagnosis and both recommended a multi-level laminectomy. I opted for a more conservative approach of a series of epidurals in conjunction with physical therapy. I had four epidurals. The first was less than helpful. The last three--performed at a different clinic--were mildly helpful providing some incremental relief. The epidurals were given approximately 3-4 weeks apart. I worked very hard at physical therapy with a therapist who was a spinal specialist and consummed more ibuprophen than I care to think about. It took me 53 weeks before my sciatic pain/numbness and buttocks pain was really diminished to the point where I felt healed. I still have occasional symptoms but nothing like what I was feeling when I was first affected. That was truly extreme...and far more disabling--though no less scairy--than my current stage 1 experience of Parkinson's. In retrospect, I think the physical therapy and the passing of time were the key elements in recovering. The whole recovery process was 2 steps forward and 1.98 steps backward. I hope your recovery is much more rapid. bob johnson 52/(3 weeks) [log in to unmask]