Decompression Surgery

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Am I too old for surgery?

A. Age alone does not determine whether surgery is safe for you. Your blood pressure, heart, lung, and kidney function are carefully evaluated. The decision is made by weighing the "risk of continuing to live unable to walk" against the "risk of surgery" — and making that decision together with you, your family, and your medical team.

Q. How much improvement can I expect?

A. The goal is to help you walk well enough for daily life. For example, if you could barely move around your home before surgery, you might be able to walk to the local store afterward. However, long-standing nerve damage or other conditions like knee or hip problems may limit how fully your legs recover.

Q. Will my numbness go away completely?

A. Pain tends to improve significantly, but some numbness may remain. Even so, improvements like "being able to walk farther" or "no longer waking up at night from pain" represent meaningful gains in your quality of life.

Q. Will surgery cure me completely?

A. Most patients see significant improvement, but being completely pain-free is not always guaranteed. Because spinal stenosis is an age-related condition, new narrowing can develop at other levels over time.

Q. How long will I be in the hospital?

A. Typically 1–2 weeks for decompression. Endoscopic surgery may allow a shorter stay.

Q. When can I return to work?

A. For desk work, about 1–2 months. For physically demanding jobs, 3–6 months is typical.