Post-operatively, patients are in the hospital for one to three days, and the individual patient’s mobilization (return to normal activity) is largely dependent on his/her pre-operative condition and age. Directly following the procedure, patients are encouraged to walk. However, it is recommended that patients avoid excessive bending, lifting or twisting for six weeks in order to avoid pulling on the suture line before it heals.

A laminectomy is effective to decrease pain and improve function for patients with lumbar stenosis. The success rate of a laminectomy surgery is favorable. Following surgery, approximately 70% to 80% of patients will have significant improvement in their function (ability to perform normal daily activities) and markedly reduced level of pain and discomfort. The surgical results are much better for relief of buttock and leg pain caused by spinal stenosis, and not nearly as reliable for relief of lower back pain. Unfortunately, the symptoms may recur after several years as the degenerative process that originally produced the spinal stenosis continues.