discectomy – where a section of a damaged disc is removed.laminectomy – where a section of bone is removed from one of your vertebrae (spinal bones) to relieve pressure on the affected nerve.The aim of lumbar decompression surgery is to relieve the pressure on your spinal cord or nerves, while maintaining as much of the strength and flexibility of your spine as possible.ĭepending on the specific reason you're having surgery, a number of different procedures may need to be carried out during your operation to achieve this. Once adequate decompression has been achieved, the muscles will be stitched back together and the incision will be closed and stitched up. The affected tissues or nerves will be removed little by little, taking the pressure off the spinal cord or nerves. The muscles in your back will be lifted from the back bone, to expose the back of the spine. how many vertebrae and/or discs need to be treated.The length of the incision will depend on: An incision will be made in the middle of your back, running vertically along your spine. The exact level of decompression required will be determined using an X-ray. The whole operation takes at least an hour, but it may take much longer, depending on its complexity. The operation is carried out under general anaesthetic, which means you'll be asleep during the procedure and won't feel any pain. You'll usually be asked not to eat or drink for about 6 hours before the operation.ĭuring lumbar decompression surgery, you'll usually lie face down on a special curved mattress to allow the surgeon better access to the affected part of your spine and reduce the pressure on your chest, abdomen and pelvis. This will give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.īefore the operation, you'll be asked to sign a consent form to confirm that you know what's involved and the potential risks. Your surgeon and anaesthetist will explain what will happen during the operation. You'll be admitted to hospital either on the day of your operation or the day before. Read more about having an operation (surgery) and general advice about going into hospital as a patient. Lumbar decompression surgery is carried out either by a neurosurgeon or an orthopaedic surgeon with experience in spinal surgery. You should be told who will be doing your operation and you may be introduced to them. This assessment is a good opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have or ask questions about your operation. You'll be asked to attend a pre-operative assessment appointment a few days or weeks before your operation.ĭuring this appointment, you may have some blood tests and a general health check to make sure you're fit for surgery, as well as an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of your spine. To help you recover from your operation and reduce your risk of complications, it helps if you're as fit as possible before surgery.Īs soon as you know you're going to have lumbar decompression surgery, it's advisable to stop smoking (if you smoke), eat well and take regular exercise. Read our guide to NHS waiting times in England. Your doctor or surgeon should be able to tell you how long you're likely to have to wait. If you and your consultant decide you could benefit from lumbar decompression surgery, you'll be put on a waiting list.

Bulging disk xray