Lumbar decompression can be surgical or non-surgical, with spinal stenosis being a common condition treated with surgery. Non-surgical treatments include machines and medication. Recovery from surgery involves pain management and limited activity. Non-surgical options exist but can be expensive.
There are two main types of lumbar decompression: surgical lumbar decompression and nonsurgical lumbar decompression. The surgical variety involves the removal of discs, ligaments, or bones to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerves in the lumbar region of the spine. However, there are also non-surgical treatments that seek to relieve pressure through the use of machines, or the use of medications, rather than through invasive surgery.
Surgical lumbar decompression remains the most common treatment for severe back problems, although its success rate varies. Spinal stenosis is a condition for which lumbar decompression is often used and occurs when the spinal canal itself actually narrows and thus the spinal nerves and spinal cord are pressed. Spinal stenosis most often occurs as a natural part of the aging process, but it can be caused by trauma such as a herniated disc or by chronic problems such as cancer or osteoporosis.
Spinal stenosis causes severe lower back pain and can also affect how the body works. Many people who suffer from spinal stenosis in the lower back find that their legs and feet go numb randomly, sometimes for long periods of time or permanently. Others experience a loss of both bowel and bladder control, which usually begins gradually and increases over time as the situation escalates.
In some cases, spinal stenosis can be adequately treated with anti-inflammatory medications. While this will not reverse the condition itself, especially if it is the result of aging and a naturally narrowing spinal canal, it can lessen the effects of the condition. In some cases, anti-inflammatory drugs may be sufficient to completely relieve symptoms for the patient’s lifetime, in which case no further treatment may be required. In other cases, however, surgical lumbar decompression may be needed to give the spinal canal a little more room to fully resolve the condition.
There are two main types of surgical lumbar decompression undertaken in the modern age: microdisectomy and laminectomy. Both methods involve sophisticated surgical procedures and can generally be performed with minimal postoperative discomfort and a relatively high success rate. If a nerve root does not appear to be fully decompressed, a minor spinal fusion may also be indicated to relieve the condition.
After having lumber decompression surgery, the pain and soreness will normally last for a fair amount of time. Oral pain medications are usually prescribed to help manage this pain, as to be expected. Activity should be fairly limited for some time after surgery, and certain movements, such as twisting the spine or heavy lifting, should be avoided long after surgery. In most cases things like driving and walking regularly can be undertaken within a few weeks of the surgery, after you visit a doctor for a checkup.
There are also a number of non-surgical lumbar decompression systems, which can help some people with back problems. These systems are usually prohibitively expensive for personal use, but many physical therapists specialize in back care and have systems on hand for regular use. While nonsurgical lumbar decompression doesn’t work for everyone, for those it does, it’s a much less invasive and potentially longer-lasting cure.
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