Men and Women from Vancouver and all across B.C. choose False Healthcare Centre because of board-certified neurosurgeons Dr. Richard Chan and Dr Michael Weber. Dr. Chan and Dr. Weber both have years of experience and excellence in performing back surgeries to bring relief to neck and back pain.
Lumbar Discectomy – Back Surgery
Lumbar discs are the structures that serve as shock absorbers between the vertebrae of the spinal column. Single level spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the lower spinal column. Lumbar discs may herniate creating pressure against one or more spinal nerves causing severe pain, numbness or weakness in the lower back, legs and feet. Chronic pain can develop from this condition.
What to Expect
Minimally invasive lumbar laminectomy and discectomy is an operation performed on the lower spine to relieve pressure on one or more nerve roots. The surgeon reaches the lumbar spine through a small incision in the low back. After the muscles of the spine are spread, the nerve root is exposed by removing part of the bony covering (lamina) which covers the nerve root. This is called a laminectomy. If necessary a portion of the intervertebral disc is then removed taking the pressure off of the nerve root.
Next Steps
If you are ready to discuss your surgery needs with our board certified surgeons, request a consultation today. During your consultation your patient care adviser will discuss:
- Your medical history
- Pre and post-operative care
- Potential risks and complications
Our Surgical Centre was the first Canadian facility to offer back surgery in the ambulatory environment and continues to be a leader in this field of surgery. New technology at the facility enables FCHC’s surgeons to perform a laminectomy endoscopically. Read about our success stories.
43 Comments
I am a 73 yr. old female who, (although I have had osteo and rheumatoid arthritis for approximately 6 years)up until 7 months ago was working full time as a real estate salesperson, and golfing, cycling and traveling in my spare time. I have had mild lower back pain for many years but severe back pain was diagnosed after my last cycling trip in May 2011 as a spinal stenosis. I was referred to a neurosurgeon and an MRI shows a severe foraminal stenosis at L3/4 on the left side and bilateral recess stenosis at L4/5 as well as osteophytes and degenerative disc disease due to the arthritis. I have been waiting for a surgery appointment for laminar foraminotomy for many months. The pain in my left buttocks and anterior thigh is increasingly painful and I already have left thigh muscle atrophy, tingling in my lower leg and great difficulty walking and standing for more than a few minutes. My concern is that I am taking powerful pain medication while waiting for the surgery and can no longer work full time let alone continue the physical activity that I am used to. What is the waiting list at your clinic for this type of surgery and what is the cost?
Many thanks,
Donna Richardson
Hello Donna,
We currently do not have a waiting list. A surgical patient advisor will be contacting you very soon with more information.
Hi! I am a 53 year old lady with serious back issues! I have fractured my T-7 and T-8 3X. I got hit by a car in my wheelchair, when I was crossing the street. This was four years ago. Then about 2 years ago I fell coming out of my bathroom and did it again! Then last September I got hit once more by a car in my w/chair. Again compression fractures of T-7 & T-8. I went to physio and worked out in the pool when I felt up to it. I also have Carcinoid Cancer, so this year past, has been very difficult. Last year I had an MRI of my spine. They found multiple problems. There are mild disc bulges in my back from C4 to T-1. In my T- spine there were several problems. Multiple hyper-intense T1 & T-2 seen in the vertebral bodies at multiple levels of my thoracic spine They commented that they were probably hemangiomas. They did not know my recent carcinoid diagnosis.. I have yet to find my primary related to that dx. The MRI also showed minor thoracic wedging at T-7 and T-8. Mild loss of height at T-5 and T-6, T-6 and T-7 and T-8. It was also noted that I had multiple Schmorl’s Nodes present in the end plates from T-6 – T-7 to L1 – L-12. There is a mild disc bulge seen at L-1 to L-2. There is also a Tarlov’s Cyst in the right neural foramen at the T- 7 and T-8. It is likely present and the left of T-7 amd T-8. As well as T-8 and T-9. My pain is with me 24/7 it feels like there is a iron hot burning my back in the mid-thoracic area. It is driving me crazy. I was on heavy duty narcotics, but my GP was told there was no clinical reason for me to on them! I was on hyrdo-morphine. Now I am just on Gabapentin and it is not working. I feel so frustrated and don’t know what to do next. Nothing stops the pain and I can’t stand sitting, or having anything close to my skin in that area. My quality of life has truly been impacted. I do not know what to do next!! I appreciate your comments. JC
i am a 30 year old male thats suffering from severe back and led pain for past 8 months. can barely walk and get around. i had a mri done (paid for myself) and showed l4 l5 and l5 s1 disc herniation and dehydration along with other abnormalties. i am getting pushed around by the health system of bc and NEED help. this pain is dehabilitating and it cant go on. my life is being impacted in a very bad way do to this pain.
Hello Justin, our Neurology patient advisor will get in contact with you. We have a Neurosurgeon and a Physiatrist that both deal in chronic back pain.
My sympathies are with you. I don’t have any back problems myself but my wife is down with hers. After 4 yrs. of trying to get her back pro blem looked at (lower lombar area 4-5). We got into see a neorsurgeon, recommended a lower back laminectomy. Major surgery 8in. scar down the lower back. The operation worked free of pain for4 months then started up again. Appox, 5 yrs later we consulted with another neorsurgeon, as the lst Dr. had retired, That Dr. gave sum hope, He figured a 95% success, he tells us he can repair things like that even using clamps, bold, nuts or screws. We went ahead with absolutly no success from the time my wife woke up after the operation. still in pain. His remarks on last consultion, he couldn’t do anymore for us, did suggested we find a good pain specalist (now that another story). We asked him who he could recommend, his only answer was he doesn’t know it wasn’t h is field. That was the last time we talked to him. 3 yrs later we made contact with a Dr. that laid it on the line, which we really appreciated. We could have have had the operation but due to complication that and success rate, we agreed to opt out. We would highly recommend this man, based on his though accessment of our situation, My wife at this time has medication of morphine and ty
i am expeiriencing severe pain in my back, particularily on the right side. The mri shows mild disc degeneration and W.C.B feels it is of natural causes rather that the type of work that I do. My complaint isnt about the discs or anything to do with the bones. I have seen two nuerosurgeons; One clearly expressed the muscles were hypertrophied on the the lower right side (it very obvious visually), and suggested that my work is responsible for this abomination of musclce structure on the right side of my body, and I should be covered and retrained by W.C.B. What kind of specialists should i be seeing with regards to this type of muscle “rupture”? I recently seen a W.C.B appointed neurosurgeon, who states what the 1st one did, as far as my discs and spine are concerned. My problem is not related to the spine, discs, ect and opposes W.C.B coverage as a result of his findings.My muscle structure on the right side is wrecked but neither one of them has any any explanation for this, and the 2nd dr. fails to even mention this. What type of doctor should I be seeing? Is there a type of specialist that deals with the muscles or is it just a nuerosurgeon?
Hello Kelvin, we have both have a Neurosurgeon and Interventional Spine Specialist. I have forwarded your contact information to our Spine Pain department; an advisor will email you very soon.
I have been diagnosed with spinal stenosis ann would like some info on minimal invasive surgery
I have beentold i have a spinal fracture from a lifting accident.
Iam in alot of pain inlower back
have beenprescribedActonel but have severespasms of pain. Would appreciate your suggestions
I’m a 40 yr old woman who is becoming more and more immobile rapidly due to severe upper back pain. I take 800 mg or Tridural a day and still feel pain. I dont like the tired feeling it gives me or the expense of it. Is there a pain med that does not make you feel tired?
Also, does your surgery help upper back problems?
My life is going down hill very fast because of upper back pain. The last 5 years it has been severe and prescription medication is now needed on a daily basis. Several car accidents since I was 15 yrs old (none my fault), I think is the reason for the damage. All were settled years ago.
I just want to feel normal again and will do anything to improve this pain. I’m on disability now and had to sell my house and business a few years back because of pain. I’m only 40. The future seems very scary for me. I was always a very active and hardworking person. Now, I take pain pills just to be able to hold myself upright and sleep a lot because of them. I’m a total burden on the system!
Can I ever get back to being a normal functioning person again with surgery or treatment? I have seen a neurologist who said he does not recommend operating at this time. He suggested traction therapy and more pain meds. I was so disappointed. I really thought there had to be some newer technology that could help me.
The neurologist said in his report after seeing me and reviewing my MRI scan from last year, “Some soft features of potential radiculopathy, cervical spine demonstrates foraminal narrowing at the left side of c6-7 with the right side at c5-6 there is loss of normal lordosis secondary to the degeneration.”
I am just about to try the traction therapy now. Can your type of surgery help me? I would really love to get off all meds. I want to work again too.Please tell me what I can do to help myself. Please help!
Lisa
I fell on my tale bone May 2009,Had c.t scan done following Nov,showed problems with my lower back,was told to keep working.Still in pain,that Dec,2009 I had the the pain go down left leg and foot as well as pain in back.I had a m.r.i.showing a baldging disk and a herniated disk.I did not get to see a surgeon until Sept,2010.Surgery was booked for Oct,2010.I was told the surgery would fix all my lower back problems.After the surgery my left leg and foot still had shooting pain down them,leg and foot still numb after the surgery also.The pain I had before the surgery was gone after surgery,came back three weeks later.Still have a numb leg and foot as well as pain everywhere again.My knees now give me pain because I’ve had problems with my back for close to two years now,end of May 2011.Another m.r.i.is booked for Feb,2011.I’ve been off work again for three months now,and no sign of returning yet.Maybe I should of looked around for different surgeons! I was told and have read about new way of this kind of surgery being a small incission on your back.Mine was bigger then I thought it would be needing 15 small staples.I might have nerve damage now to my foot and leg from my bad surgery and waiting for the right help.Think twice about back surgery.
To Mr/Mrs S Armstrong. My wife and I have had an extended experience with Dr. & Neorsurgions. We know what you are going through. My wife has had 2 Operations,with no sucess. Gone the gamet on pain specilists, lazor treatments, accupuncture, now on pain killers Morphine, tylonal and what ever. Pease feel free to email us at the above address. Must be a reason I got to this site tonite, I never been on it and never tried to locate it. Wishing you all the best.
fell down and injured spine which gave me frozen shoulders and unable to walk anymore also cannot move arms and hands are knotted up have severe pain in all areas including neck back and shouders and hands and fingers cannot even wipe my own buttocks cannot feed self anymore have been in hospital for 8 months and feel depressed most of the time because of loss of mobility able to do stuff for myself i am an elderly woman who is still young at heart and am not over the hill yet i want some advice on what to do for pain pain management and pain medications that you would recommend and what you would recommend for my depression and self help also thank you i am in St Joseph’s hospital in thunder bay ontario thank you sinerelty