Laminectomy enlarges your spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, and has about an 80 percent success rate at improving walking abilities.
How long does it take to fully recover from a laminectomy?
Complete recovery may take 4 to 6 weeks or a few months after a lumbar laminectomy depending on the age and general health of the patient and the number of segments treated.
What are the side effects of a laminectomy?
- Bleeding.
- Infection.
- Medical or anesthesia problems.
- Blood clots.
- Nerve damage.
- Spinal fluid leak.
- Bowel or bladder problems (incontinence).
- Worsening back pain.
What can you not do after a laminectomy?
Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise , until your doctor says it is okay. Do not drive for 2 to 4 weeks after your surgery or until your doctor says it is okay. Avoid riding in a car for more than 30 minutes at a time for 2 to 4 weeks after surgery.
Is a laminectomy a major surgery?
Laminectomy is a common but major surgery with significant risks and potential complications . You may have less invasive treatment options available.
Do you need physical therapy after a laminectomy?
In general, you should expect to start physical therapy 4 to 6 weeks after your lumbar laminectomy or discectomy. If there were any post-operative complications like infection or excessive bleeding, then you may need to wait a bit longer.
How bad is the pain after a laminectomy?
Unfortunately, some 20% of patients report ongoing back pain following spinal surgery. Lack of pain relief after spinal surgery is called post-laminectomy syndrome, or failed back syndrome. Patients with post-laminectomy syndrome often live with chronic pain and disability, which can cause significant distress.
How soon can you walk after a laminectomy?
Walking is the best activity you can do for the first 6 weeks after surgery . You should start out slowly and work up to walking 30 minutes at least twice a day. Do not be surprised if you require frequent naps during the day.
Why do Laminectomies fail?
Why Post-Surgical Pain Occurs
There are a variety of factors that may cause Post-Laminectomy Syndrome: In many cases, the spinal nerve root, which has been decompressed by the surgery, simply does not fully recover from its prior trauma and continues to be a source of chronic nerve pain or sciatica.
Is laminectomy high risk surgery?
As with any surgery, the risks of infection, sepsis , and severe bleeding may occur during or after open lumbar laminectomy surgery.
How do you sleep after a laminectomy?
It is generally OK after back surgery to sleep in whatever position is most comfortable . Some prefer to sleep on one side or the other with a pillow between their knees and/or behind them to support the back.
How long before nerve pain goes away after laminectomy?
Sometimes this is a temporary condition as the nerve root or roots take time to heal. This can take days to weeks . If the pain is still there after 3 months, it is unlikely to improve on its own.
What is the fastest way to recover from back surgery?
- A good pain doctor/physical therapist. Make sure you know who to call if you are still in pain after surgery. ...
- Sleep. Your body will do most of its healing while you sleep. ...
- Walks. ...
- Patience. ...
- Massage therapy. ...
- Good attitude.
How successful is decompression surgery?
The surgery has a relatively high success rate – about 90-95% – in providing relief of leg pain and/or buttock pain. Often, the pain relief is instant and patients wake up after the surgery feeling marked relief of their leg pain.
How do I strengthen my lower back after laminectomy?
- Lie on your back with one leg straight and one knee bent.
- Tighten abdominal muscles to stabilize your low back.
- Slowly lift leg straight up about 6 to 12 inches and hold for 1 to 5 seconds.
- Lower leg slowly.
- Repeat 10 times.
Why are my legs so weak after back surgery?
The most common way is due to the mechanical compression of nerve roots , the spinal cord, or the dural sac. They may occur via an expanding, space-occupying process such as a nerve root edema, an epidural hematoma, or via compressor instrumentation.
