Laminectomy can provide relief for back and leg pain caused by compression of the spinal nerve or spinal cord which has not responded to conservative treatment.  If there are herniated intervertebral disc or bony spurs present, they may also be removed at the same time to remove the source of the compression.  This surgery is also known as decompression surgery because it enlarges the space around spinal canal. 

Indications for Surgery

You may need to have surgery when conservative treatment using neck or chest brace combined with physiotherapy or traction exercise has not given you relief to your symptoms such as;

• Pain which interferes with your daily activities or sleep
• Pain which radiates down your back or to your arms and hands
• Weakness or numbness of your hands or feet

Rehab after Back Surgery

It is important to arrange with your physiotherapist or occupational therapist to enrol in a Rehabilitation Program to get you back onto your feet and begin building up your muscle strength and spine mobility to regain your life back on track!

Risks of Back Surgery

After back surgery, it may take between 3 to 12 months to return to your normal daily activities or sports.  However, there may still be residual pain as well as movement restrictions depending on your condition because every person’s condition and requirements is different.  There are also risks associated with any back surgery and they include (but not limited to);

• Paralysis or numbness
• Persistent or increased pain
• Infection
• Leakage of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)
• Blood clots due to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Discuss the treatment options with your Orthopaedic or Spine Surgeon

---

Disclaimer. TELEME blog posts contains general information about health conditions and treatments. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information is not advice and should not be treated as such. 

If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition, you should seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or other professional healthcare providers. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.