It is debilitating. Period. My Dr says “you don’t want the surgery..” After reading this I am not so sure.
My brother said it hurt like hell, but eventually the pain went away, and he can do everything he used to before the stenosis set in. He described it as being like carpal tunnel in one’s back.
I have stenosis, it started out as just hip pain last January and by June I had lost the ability to walk ten feet, pain beyond belief. I had both a laminectomy and discectomy in August and could walk the same day - albeit not too far but made great progress once home and with physical therapy. I still feel some pain in the morning but nothing like before and some weakness but at 63 I’m glad to be up and about, walking (with a cane for longer distances). If you are not sure you need it then you probably don’t, you’ll know when you do. I don’t regret it one bit.
I'm living proof you do NOT want surgery, and that doing everything to allow the spine to heal itself naturally (therapy, responsible pain management, etc..) is the correct way.
Your doc is correct. I went through both a laminectomy and fusion three years ago with the full load-out of titanium rods and pins. I would not recommend it. IMHO the recovery time, long (and painful) Phys Therapy, and reduced range of motion really weren’t worth it for the reduction of nerve pain.