Lumbar Spine Decompression

This webpage will give you information about lumbar spinal decompression. If you have any questions, you should ask your GP or other relevant health professional.

What is spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is where the space in the centre of the spine (spinal canal) narrows. The spinal canal contains the nerves that leave the lower end of the spinal cord (see figure 1).

Normal vertebra

Figure 1 - Normal vertebra

A combination of arthritis in the spine, thickening of the ligaments, and bulging of the discs can cause this to happen. The nerves can get trapped in the spinal canal or where they leave the spine, causing weakness or pain in your legs.

What are the benefits of surgery?

You should be relieved of any pain or weakness in your legs.

Are there any alternatives to surgery?

If you only have mild symptoms, you may not need any treatment. Your symptoms are unlikely to get worse quickly. A few people will even get better with time.

If you have pain down your leg that is caused by pressure on a nerve in your lower back (sciatica), you can have a steroid epidural injection in your spine.

What does the operation involve?

You will usually have an MRI scan, to confirm the diagnosis and help your surgeon to plan the operation.

A variety of anaesthetic techniques are possible. The operation usually takes between an hour and an hour and a half.

Your surgeon will make a cut in the centre of your lower back. They will remove enough bone and ligament tissue from the back of the spine to free the trapped nerves.

Your surgeon may need to join the bones using a bone graft. Sometimes they will need to use metal screws and rods.

What complications can happen?

1 General complications

Pain
Bleeding
Infection in the surgical site (wound)
Unsightly scarring
Blood clots
Difficulty passing urine
Chest infection
Heart attack
Stroke

2 Specific complications

Continued pain or numbness
Numbness between your legs, loss of normal bowel and bladder control and, in men, problems with having an erection
Tear of the thin membrane that covers the nerves in your spine
Infection in the spine

How soon will I recover?

You will normally be able to start walking on the first day after surgery. You should be able to go home after three to five days.

It is best not to do any heavy lifting after you have had back surgery, even if that is what your job involves.

Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, you should ask a member of the healthcare team or your GP for advice.

Most people make a good recovery from surgery. However, you may still get backache because of wear and tear in your spine.

Spinal stenosis can sometimes come back.

Summary

Spinal stenosis causes pain or weakness in your legs. If your symptoms are severe, a spinal decompression operation should relieve your symptoms and help you to return to normal activities.

Acknowledgements

Author: Mr Stephen Milner DM FRCS (Tr. & Orth.)

Illustrations: Mr Stephen Milner DM FRCS (Tr. & Orth.)

This document is intended for information purposes only and should not replace advice that your relevant health professional would give you.

The operation and treatment information on this website is produced by EIDO Healthcare Ltd and is licensed by Ramsay Health Care UK. The intellectual property rights to the information belong exclusively to EIDO Healthcare Limited.

You may not copy, print out, download or otherwise reproduce any of the information other than for your personal, non-commercial use.

The information should not replace advice that your relevant health professional would give you.