What to Expect from Lumbar Laminectomy

Persistent low back pain cramps your style, keeping you from living life to the fullest. The orthopedic surgery and physical therapy experts at South Texas Spinal Clinic offer the best treatment options to relieve your back pain and improve your quality of life.

Among the treatments for back pain we offer for patients from our locations in San Antonio and South Texas, a lumbar laminectomy might be the right choice for you. Our team can help you determine if surgical intervention could effectively address your chronic and severe low back pain.

When you need a lumbar laminectomy

Your lumbar spine is prone to stress and injury. You may suffer from persistent low back pain as a result of issues with a herniated disc or disc fragment, or due to a bone spur in your lumbar spinal area. These issues create nerve compression in your lumbar spine, putting pressure on the sensitive nerves that run along your spinal column.

Lumbar laminectomy removes the source of the pressure and spinal nerve irritation that may be the root cause of your persistent low back pain.

A laminectomy procedure can be performed on different areas of your spine. In a lumbar laminectomy, we focus on the five vertebrae and cushioning discs of your lumbar spine, located in your lower back. These are your largest vertebrae, and they take the whole weight of your upper body when you stand and bend.

Surgical treatment for low back pain

In a laminectomy, one of our specialists at South Texas Spinal Clinic creates an incision in your back over the location of the vertebra causing your low back pain.

After shifting muscles out of the way, we remove part of your lamina, located in the arch of your vertebra, which forms the upper curve of your spinal canal.

With the lamina removed, we can learn more about your nerve compression and give pinched nerves the space they need to heal by removing the herniated portion of a disc if that’s the problem, and/or stabilizing your spine with spinal fusion if necessary. After recovery, you can expect lasting relief from symptoms, such as numbness, tingling, weakness, and low back pain.

Laminectomy preparation and recovery

We use minimally invasive surgical techniques whenever possible. Surgery typically takes 2-3 hours under general anesthesia.

You’ll be able to move and walk after your procedure, but should plan to limit activity for about six weeks following surgery. You may need to stay in the hospital for up to three days. Physical therapy can help you heal after surgery.

To learn more about lumbar laminectomy and how surgical treatment could relieve your low back pain, get in touch with our back pain experts at South Texas Spinal Clinic. Schedule your appointment over the phone or book online.