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Surgical Recovery and Risks: Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis - Part 7

Richard G. Fessler, MD, PhD
Professor of Neurological Surgery
Northwestern University
Chicago, IL
Kristine M. Khoo, RN, MSN, NP
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch
Chicago, IL
Larry T. Khoo, M.D.
CoDirector
UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center
Los Angeles, CA
Your Recovery
During Micro-Endoscopic Laminotomy (MEL) surgery to treat lumbar spinal stenosis, you will be asleep under general anesthesia. After surgery you will be taken to the recovery area where you will be monitored until you awaken. Most patients can begin getting out of bed on the same day surgery is performed. Activity is gradually increased and patients are typically able to go home within two to five days after a classical laminectomy and one to two days after MEL. However, these time frames may be longer depending on the extent your surgery.

Typically you will experience pain for a few weeks after surgery and you may need over-the-counter or prescription pain medications. Your neurosurgeon may also prescribe a course of physical therapy to help you regain strength in your abdomen and back and promote a better recovery.

The total recovery time after lumbar surgery can take anywhere from eight weeks to six months, depending on the severity of your condition before surgery as well as your overall health condition prior to surgery. Common sense tells you the healthier you are the quicker you will heal. As smoking weakens bones, accelerate degeneration and slows the healing process, we also highly recommend you stop before any type of surgical procedure.

Understanding the Risks
Decompressive laminectomy is the most common and successful surgery done for treatment of symptoms associated with lumbar spinal stenosis. Over 60,000 such surgeries are done annually on patients over 60. However, it is still surgery and any surgery involves risk.

Your neurosurgeon will discuss these risks in detail with you, but the most common ones are bleeding, infection, injury to the nerve, scarring, and the usual risks of anesthesia. Those with accompanying chronic health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure or those with advanced stenosis carry greater risk and may have poorer outcomes.

Ultimately you will be the one to decide which treatment option is best for you. Your neurosurgeon will discuss all options with you and explain the pros and cons of each to help you decide. Only you can determine if your pain warrants a more definitive treatment plan such as surgery.

Last Updated: 03/17/2005
Continue Reading: Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
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Editorial Board Comments on SpineUniverse
SpineUniverse is committed to ensuring that all information on its site is trustworthy and of the highest quality. To maintain the site's quality, SpineUniverse relies on its exceptional Editorial Board. The Editorial Board is a "Who's Who" of more than 60 leading spine specialists, including surgeons, pain management specialists, chiropractors, nurses, physical therapists and more.

Peer Review by Leading Specialists

    Lali Sekhon, MD, PhD, FRACS, FICS

    This study gives an excellent overview of what is a very common spinal condition. The etiology, manifestations and management of spinal stenosis are covered very well. A few comments need to be made. Myelography is rarely used as a primary investigative tool with the widespread availability of MR scanning. Minimally-invasive laminectomy is certainly not standard of care in the management of spinal stenosis and most surgeons perform open laminectomies very successfully. In all but experienced hands, complication rates from minimally-invasive laminectomy may be higher than open laminectomy. All patients who are considering surgical intervention or suffer from spinal stenosis should read this thorough and thoughtful review. Fessler et al provide a comprehensive and complete guide to this condition and its management.
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