Laser disc decompression

• Lower back, shoulder or neck pain
• Leg or arm pain that may feel sharp or shoot down the arms or legs, depending on which part of the spine is affected
• Problems bending down or straightening your back
• Problems twisting or turning your neck
• Tingling or numbness in the arms, legs, hands, or feet caused by pressure on spinal nerves
• Weakness in the arms or legs due to nerve compression

Laser disc decompression is generally used when these symptoms are caused by a herniated disc and other treatments, like medication or physical therapy, have not helped. It is particularly recommended if you have persistent pain that lasts for months and affects your daily activities.

It is important to note that not all slipped discs cause symptoms to occur. You may not know you have the condition until getting investigated and tested.

Herniated disc

The most common reason you may have laser disc decompression is to treat a herniated (also known as slipped) disc. You have a number of bones that run down your back that form the spine. In between each one of these bones is a soft, rounded cushion of tissue called a disc. These discs help protect and support the bones while you’re moving, allowing you to bend and move easily. If the discs weaken or become damaged, this can lead to the inner gel of the disc to bulge out and put pressure on the spinal nerves.

This can be caused by a number of factors including:

• Ageing
• Injuries, such as a fall
• Lifting heavy objects incorrectly
• Exercising too much
• Being inactive, sitting down, or driving for too long
• Repetitive tasks that involve a lot of twisting and or bending

Some conditions can put you at higher risk of developing a herniated disc. These include diabetes and connective tissue disorder. Lifestyle factors can also impact your risk of developing the condition, including smoking and or being overweight or obese.

Typically, the condition affects those between the ages of 30 and 50. Men are twice as likely to experience the condition than women. It is estimated that one in 20 cases of back pain are due to a slipped disc.

Sciatica

Sciatica is a condition caused by pressure or rubbing on the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is a nerve that runs down the back and to your feet, providing key motor and sensory function to the lower limbs. It is the longest and largest nerve in the human body.

Symptoms you often experience with the condition includes pain, numbness, weakness or tingling in your legs, feet, and buttocks.

Sciatica has several causes, including being triggered by a slipped disc.

Spinal stenosis

This is a condition caused by parts of the spinal column narrowing, putting pressure on the spinal cord and surrounding nerves that run through the spine.

This can cause symptoms such as pain or cramping in one or both legs, numbness in the neck, tingling or weakness in a hand, leg, foot or arm, problems with walking and balance, neck pain, and problems with the bowel or bladder.

Spinal stenosis is often caused by conditions that cause the open space within the spine to narrow. This can include bone spurs, thickened ligaments, spinal injuries, a herniated disc, or spinal tumours.

Annular tear

An annular tear (also known as an annular fissure) is a tear in the outer layer of a spinal disc. You may experience symptoms such as back pain, pain that spreads to your buttocks, legs, or arms, numbness or tingling in your legs or arms, electrical sensations that travel down one leg or arm, and muscle weakness.

You may develop the condition due to factors such as changes to the structure of the disc due to ageing, being overweight, smoking, repetitive body movements, and posture.

A spinal injury

Experiencing a injury to the spine can also damage the spinal discs or cause inflammation that can cause strain on the spinal cord and surrounding nerves.

Spinal tumours

Having a tumour or abnormal growth on the spine can put pressure on your spinal cord and surrounding nerves. Laser decompression is sometimes used for some cases of spinal tumours, but it isn’t common.

Laser disc decompression is different to a discectomy or microdiscectomy, both of which use surgical incisions to access and remove part or all of a herniated disc. Laser disc decompression is carried out using a needle instead, reducing the risk of complications.

There are further benefits laser decompression compared to microdiscectomy. It has fewer risks, less complications, and you can usually go home the same day.

While a microdiscectomy can also be performed as a day case procedure, it isn’t typically recommend to do so due to its being more invasive. This is so your healthcare team can assess your recovery after surgery and detect any signs for concern.

If you are paying for your own treatment, you will be given a fixed-price package, which includes the cost of your procedure, your hospital stay, and any aftercare you need. It doesn’t include the cost of your initial consultations, or any scans or tests you may need in order to get a diagnosis. 

If you’re paying for yourself, you can take advantage of our flexible payment plans, which allow you to spread the cost of treatment over a fixed period of up to five years, with interest-free options available for our shortest repayment terms.

If you have private medical insurance, spinal treatment will often be covered by your policy. Speak to your insurer directly to find out.

If your consultant suspects there may be a cause for concern, they will walk you through your next steps and which imaging tests you may need, such as an X-Ray or MRI scan.

If your tests confirm that you have a disc herniation, your consultant will discuss with you all your available treatment options. Your consultant may suggest treatments such as physiotherapy or a diagnostic injection initially to assess whether you would benefit from other less invasive interventions before recommending surgery.

However, to ensure that your recovery goes well and your risk of complications is low, it is essential to make sure you’re as healthy as possible. It is advised you stop smoking, reduce your alcohol intake, regularly exercise, and eat healthily to maximise your body’s ability to handle surgery and heal.

It is important you follow any directions given for not eating or drinking before your procedure.

Your consultant may advise you to stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, several days before the procedure.

You will need to arrange for somebody to drive you home. This is because you will not be able to drive for 24 hours after the procedure.

Once you arrive, your healthcare team will explain what they will be doing again to ensure you know what to expect. Feel free to ask any questions about the procedure so you feel at ease before they begin.

Your surgeon will guide a thin needle into the problem disc or area helped by imaging such as an X-ray or ultrasound. Laser energy is then delivered to burn away a small amount of the disc’s soft centre. This helps shrink the disc and relieve the pressure on your nerves. Once the needle is removed, a small bandage is used to close the wound.

The procedure is usually quick, taking around 40 mins to complete.

There are different lasers that could be used during the procedure. This includes CO2, YAG, and Holmium:YAG lasers. Your consultant surgeon will pick the one that best matches the issue with your disc, with the aim to fix the issue with as little damage and recovery time as possible.

Recovery is usually quite swift, although everybody journey can differ. Typically, positive improvements in nerve or lower back pain are noticeable within two to three weeks.

It is recommended that you take seven to 10 days off work to ensure a positive recovery. Although you can’t drive the day of the procedure, you will be able to resume driving the next day. Your consultant will discuss with you about how to go about lifting heavy items or participating in other strenuous activities after the operation.

You may experience slight pain or aching for a few days during recovery. This can be managed with pain medication as instructed by your healthcare team.

Possible complications can include:

General risks of any operation:

• Pain
• Infection
• Scarring
• Blood clots
• Excess bleeding
• Heart attack or stroke

Specific complications of laser disc decompression surgery:

• New numbness or weakness in one or both legs
• Tear of the thin membrane that covers your spinal cord and nerves (known as the dura)
• Leakage of liquid that surrounds and cushions the spinal cord (known as cerebrospinal fluid)
• Nerve damage
• Paralysis (rare)

Laser disc decompression is an effective way to relieve issues caused by a slipped disc. However, in some cases, the procedure may not be successful. If this is the case, you may experience symptoms continue after the surgery or reoccur again within a few years after the operation. This may mean that additional treatment options might be needed going forward if this is the case.

Although the procedure can carry some risk, the chances of experiencing any issues is generally uncommon. If you are worried about your risk of having the surgery, please speak to your consultant surgeon about your concerns. They can discuss the likelihood of these risks based on your personal circumstances and general chances they may occur. We want to help you put your mind at ease and feel confident about your treatment journey.

• Flexible appointment times and locations to fit your routine
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suit your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams
• Private ensuite rooms as standard and delicious healthy meals
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to learn more about this procedure, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly.

1. Slipped disc, NHS
2. Spinal decompression therapy, Cleveland Clinic
3. Everything You Want to Know About Laser Back Surgery, Healthline