Lumbar Decompression

When thickened ligaments or damaged bone presses on your spinal cord, you may need lumbar decompression surgery to achieve pain relief. At the Brain and Spine Center of South Florida, the experienced medical team uses minimally invasive techniques to remove bone or herniated disc material that compresses your spinal nerves. They customize a surgical plan to relieve chronic pain in your lower back and legs, so you can regain your mobility. Call the office in Delray Beach or Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to schedule a lumbar decompression consultation or book an appointment online today. 

What is lumbar decompression?

Lumbar decompression is a surgery to treat nerve compression in the lumbar (lower) spine (radiculopathy) or compression of the spinal cord.

The Brain and Spine Center of South Florida offers several types of lumbar decompression surgeries, including:

Microdiscectomy

During a microdiscectomy, your surgeon removes herniated disc material that presses on the nerves in your lower spine.

Lumbar laminectomy

Lumbar laminectomy is a decompression surgery to relieve pain from lumbar spinal stenosis, a condition that describes narrowing in your spinal column. Surgery relieves pressure on the nerves by removing bone, ligaments, and enlarged facet joints that press on your spinal cord or surrounding nerves.

Foraminotomy

Foraminotomy involves the removal of bone around the canal where nerve roots leave your spine. This procedure can treat pinched nerves that develop when damaged discs cause vertebrae to collapse.

When should I consider lumbar decompression?

You might be a candidate for lumbar decompression surgery if you can’t find sufficient lower back pain relief with medications, physical therapy, or other nonsurgical strategies.

The Brain and Spine Center of South Florida team may recommend lumbar decompression to treat chronic lower back pain or leg pain that results from:

• Sciatica
• Arthritis
• Herniated disc
• Spine injuries
• Degenerative disc disease

To determine if you’re a candidate for lumbar decompression, the team performs a physical exam and may request X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or other imaging tests to get a closer look at your spine.

How long does recovery from lumbar decompression take?

Immediately after your lumbar decompression surgery, you spend time recovering from anesthesia and may need to stay in the hospital for 1-2 days for observation.

You can expect to gradually increase your physical activity before you go home to recover. The team provides after-care instructions to ensure your incisions heal fully and can prescribe medications to manage any discomfort you have.

You should avoid strenuous activity for several weeks. After your follow-up visit at the Brain and Spine Center of South Florida, you can gradually resume your usual routine. The team may also recommend physical therapy to restore your spine’s strength and flexibility.

Call the Brain and Spine Center of South Florida office near you to find out if you’re a candidate for lumbar decompression or book a consultation online today.