5 Things to Know about Lumbar Decompression Surgery

The lower back's compressed nerves are treated by lumbar decompression surgery. Spinal stenosis, spinal trauma, and metastatic spinal cord compression can all be effectively treated with surgery.

Here are Five Things that you should know about Lumbar Decompression Surgery

1. Orthopedic vs Neurosurgeons

You may be wondering which physician to see for your lumbar decompression: an orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon. A spine orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon may be the best option for spine procedures. They do differ, though, so you can choose what's best for you. It is usually a good idea to discuss the severity of your case with your physician. You can see the best doctor for your illness based on the parameters.

2. Success Rates

Lumbar decompression surgery has a high success rate, at 90%. Surgery carries a very low risk of death, although some people may have considerable discomfort following their procedure. Patients who have had surgery may experience persistent weakness in their bodies for up to a year, as the nerves may take a long time to repair.

3. Effective Treatment for Spondylolisthesis

The majority of surgeons concur that decompression surgery is a successful means of treating spondylolisthesis, a disorder in which one bone slides onto the bone beneath it. Even though it's not often the first choice, surgery is typically only considered after all other non-surgical options have failed to relieve a patient's pain or discomfort. The top spondylolisthesis treatment clinic in the UK is one of several that will be covered in a later blog post.

4. Painless Procedure

Most of the time, the patients are unconscious during surgery because they are given a dose of general anesthetic. The intricacy and severity of the ailment will determine how long the procedure takes, and there is no discomfort experienced during it.

5. Complications with the Lumbar Decompression Surgery

Despite the high success rates of this operation, there are several potential problems. Among them are blood clots forming at the surgical site, infections, and nerve damage that could result in paralysis. You can prevent the final complication by selecting a highly-trained specialist for this surgery.

Most persons who have spinal decompression recover well and resume their regular activities. Similar to every procedure, these problems are possible:

• Bleeding
• Pain
• Scarring
• Infection of the surgical site (incision)
• Damage to the spinal cord or nerves
• Chest infection
• Difficulty passing urine
• Blood clots (DVT - deep vein thrombosis)

Specific complications of spinal decompression include:

• Nerve damage
• Leaking of spinal fluid
• Continued pain or numbness
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Bleeding in the spinal column
• Infection in the spine

Why may you need spinal decompression surgery?

In patients with spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal, decompression is used to free up trapped nerves. The nerves that exit the spinal cord are located in the spinal canal. This constriction can be brought on by a combination of spinal tumors, spondylolisthesis (a condition in which a vertebra slips forward or backward), bulging (herniation) of the discs, and (in rarer situations) arthritic spines.

Spinal decompression surgery is also a treatment option for sciatica, slipped discs, and spinal injuries.

Spinal surgery is typically only advised in cases when non-surgical methods have not been able to alleviate your symptoms. After the procedure, many patients report a noticeable improvement in their discomfort. Following surgery, patients who had trouble walking due to leg discomfort or weakness are frequently able to walk farther and more comfortably.

Your consultant could first suggest anti-inflammatory drugs for pain relief. If you experience pain down your leg that stems from strain on the sciatica nerve in your lower back, your surgeon can suggest a steroid injection into your spine.