| Scar tissue forming near the nerve root is called | | | | toward its destination. A nerve cell that lives in |
| epidural fibrosis. This epidural fibrosis is a common | | | | the brain or within the spinal cord is called a |
| occurrence after back surgery has been | | | | central nerve, and a nerve that leaves the spine |
| preformed. The formation of scar tissue is part | | | | to go into the arms or legs are called peripheral |
| of a normal healing process the body goes | | | | nerves. These peripheral nerves are actually |
| through after spine surgery. Unfortunately the | | | | bundles of millions of nerve fibers that leave the |
| build-up of this scar tissue can cause nerve | | | | spinal cord and branch to their target muscles to |
| impingements causing back pain and/or leg pain. | | | | make them move or go to the skin to provide |
| There are successful procedures performed by | | | | feeling. |
| surgeons called a Laminotomy. | | | | If a nerve gets "pinched" the flow up and down |
| A nerve that is under pressure and causing pain | | | | the inside of the hose is reduced or blocked and |
| or impaired function is referred to as a pinched | | | | the nutrients stop flowing. Eventually the |
| nerve. This can happen to nerves that control | | | | membrane starts to lose its healthy ability to |
| muscle movements or relay sensations to the | | | | transmit the tiny electrical charges and the nerve |
| brain. | | | | fiber may eventually die. When enough fibers stop |
| The initial symptoms will affect your buttocks and | | | | working, the skin may feel numbness or a muscle |
| legs, arms, fingers, neck or shoulders. These | | | | may not contract. |
| symptoms may be tingling, numbness, a burning | | | | Minimally invasive laser spine surgery uses an |
| sensation or shooting pains. | | | | arthroscopic approach to a Laminotomy opening |
| The pains and sensations can sometimes be felt | | | | the spinal canal without any need for general |
| quite a distance away from the point of pressure. | | | | anesthesia. A laminotomy is generally performed |
| Although you have a pinched nerve the lumbar | | | | in a surgical outpatient setting. A laminotomy is |
| region of your back, it’s possible that the only | | | | not a laminectomy. |
| painful symptom that this may be causing could | | | | Laminotomy: A laminotomy the surgical procedure |
| be in your calf. Pain and weakness may increase | | | | used to relieve the spinal canal off pressure |
| when there is nerve damage from constant | | | | affecting the exiting nerve root and spinal cord. |
| pressure. Movement skills, reflexes, sensations in | | | | The process increases the amount of space |
| the affect area may be affected and muscular | | | | available for neural tissue thus releasing the |
| atrophy may begin to occur. | | | | nerve(s). |
| Nerves are extensions from the brain that reach | | | | The term laminotomy is derived from the Latin |
| out into the arms or legs to go to the muscles or | | | | words lamina (bony plate that covers the |
| skin. A nerve is a cell that is microscopic in size, | | | | posterior arch of the vertebra) and -otomy (act |
| and its fibers may run several feet in length | | | | of cutting, incision). |