Lumbar Nerve Root Decompression for Foraminal Stenosis

Following your recent MRI scan and consultation with your spinal surgeon, you have been diagnosed as having a narrowing of your lumbar spinal nerve root canal, known as foraminal stenosis, resulting in nerve root compression and leg pain (sciatica).

The normal spinal column has a central canal (or passage) through which the spinal cord passes down. The spinal cord stops at the top of the lumbar spine (lower back) and below that point tiny nerve rootlets splay out like a horse’s tail forming the cauda equina, all of which are protected by a tough outer membrane, or covering, called the dura mater.

To each side of the canal, spinal nerve roots branch out at every level through a bony passage (foramen).

The intervertebral disc is a structure between the vertebrae (bones of the spine), which acts as both a spacer and a shock absorber. The disc is composed of two parts: a soft gel-like middle (nucleus pulposus) surrounded by a tougher fibrous wall (annulus fibrosus).

  • Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital

    NHS

    Ashford and St Peter’s
    Hospital
    NHS Foundation Trust
    Guildford Road, Cherstey,
    Surrey, KY16 0PZ.
    Ph: 01932 722 730
  • The BMI Runnymede Hospital

    Private

    The BMI
    Runnymede Hospital
    Guildford Road,
    Ottershaw, CHERTSEY,
    KT16 0RQ.
    Ph: 01932 877800
  • Spire St Anthony’s Hospital

    Private

    Spire St Anthony’s
    Hospital
    801 London Road,
    NORTH CHEAM,
    SM3 9DW.
    Ph: 020 8337 6691
  • Nuffield Health Woking Hospital

    Private

    Nuffield Health
    Woking Hospital
    Shores Road,
    WOKING,
    GU21 4BY.
    Ph: 01483 331257
  • Ramsay Health Ashtead Hospital

    Private

    Ramsay Health
    Ashtead Hospital
    The Warren,
    Ashtead, Surrey.
    KT21 2SB.
    Ph: 01372 221400