Spinal Decompression Specialist

What is spinal decompression?

Spinal decompression is a surgical treatment that treats painful conditions of the spine. You may be a good candidate for spinal decompression surgery if you have chronic pain and disability from conditions like:

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spinal column narrows and puts pressure on the surrounding nerves, resulting in chronic pain and limited mobility.

Herniated disc

A herniated disc is a condition where the cushioning discs between your vertebrae wear out or are damaged by injury, forcing the soft disc center outward. The center presses on surrounding nerves and results in chronic pain. 

Metastatic spinal cord compression

A condition where cancer spreads from another part of the body into the spine and puts pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.

You may also develop chronic spine pain or a limited range of motion from vertebrae fractures. 

Am I a good candidate for spinal decompression?

Typically, spinal decompression surgery is a last resort for treating chronic pain from spine-related conditions. 

Valdosta Orthopedic Associates may recommend decompression surgery after you try conservative treatments, like medications and physical therapy, without positive results. 

Your provider also reviews your personal and family medical history to ensure you can safely tolerate surgery and anesthesia. If you decide to move forward with surgery, they create a surgical treatment plan that focuses on your specific needs. 

What can I expect during spinal decompression?

There are several techniques Valdosta Orthopedic Associates uses for spinal decompression depending on your condition. 

Treating fractures typically involves kyphoplasty, a surgical procedure where your surgeon repairs non-healing fractures with medical-grade cement. 

If your pain results from vertebrae pressing on the spinal nerves, your surgeon may perform a laminectomy to remove part of the vertebrae. 

When you have chronic pain from a damaged disc, you may need a discectomy, a procedure where they remove part or the entire disc to relieve pressure on the nerves. 

Following any type of decompression surgery, your surgeon may also recommend a spinal fusion, a procedure where they fuse two or more vertebrae together to provide your spine with increased stability and support. 

To find out more about the benefits of spinal decompression surgery, call Valdosta Orthopedic Associates or request an appointment online.