Decompression?

[Mary.Mary]

What is meant by a decompression?

[rhatzy]

If your disc is compressing a nerve, they go in and remove the part of the disc that is pressing on a nerve. Also, other things can be decompressed like bone spurs, making a bigger hole where the nerve exits thru the foramina and also a laminectomy where they remove bone at the lamina to give more space for the spinal chord.

Mark

[Mary.Mary]

So, if I was told 'decompression at 2 levels maybe 3' that means they do the same thing on all the levels?

Sorry for the questions.

[trkdoc714]

Not necessarily. Decompression mainly means "decompressing the nerve or nerve root(s). This can mean removing either disc or bone material (or both) to remove pressure from that particular nerve/ nerve root. They could remove bone spurs from the spinal canal, foramina or lamina.

Usually (as in my case) the disc has lost too much height to remove any more of it so bone from the foraminal opening is removed to allow the nerve to be decompressed from anything that would come in contact with it. I opted for the ADR which restored the disc height and removed pressure from the nerve(s). No decompression was needed as the stenosis is mild. When the ADR was implanted (original disc height restored) the foramina was "lifted" off of the nerve root so the stenosis is asymptomatic now.

I was offered a 3 level laminectomy to decompress the nerves by one surgeon. That surgeon said he may need to use instrumentation for a successful outcome (he couldn't bring himself say 3 level fusion). A laminectomy can mean removing the lamina (part of the verabra from facet to facet joint that encases the nerve bundle or cauda equina).

I hope this answers your question Mary,

Bob

[Mary.Mary]

OH BOY!!

That answered my questions, but brought on more questions. Is there other options out there other than a decompression? I hear alot of talk on this forum about ADR etc etc.

I NEVER hear of any of the dr's talking about ADR etc here. When I was in Physio all I heard about was decompression, fusions, diskectomy etc.

This is DEFINATELY alot to learn!!

Thanks for the help with my questions!!