What Is Lumbar Rhizotomy?

Lumbar rhizotomy is a procedure used to alleviate back pain caused by the facet joints, which control movement between the vertebrae. Nerve impingement within these joints can cause lower back pain.

• Lumbar rhizotomy is used to alleviate pain along the spine.

Procedure

• Stunning the nerve that is causing pain is accomplished with a thin electrode. Lumbar rhizotomy is usually an outpatient procedure, and general anesthetic is used during the procedure.

Reason

• Rhizotomy is used to alleviate back pain to avoid needing to perform a more invasive procedure such as a laminectomy or a foraminotomy. The nerves that are stunned are not important to normal body function, according to My-Spine.com.

Recovery

• You may have pain for up to three weeks after the procedure. Rest and exercise are crucial after the rhizotomy.

Time Frame

• Lumbar rhizotomy does not permanently cure pain, and it will need to be repeated when pain returns. The procedure can be repeated indefinitely.

Warning

• Not all patients are helped by rhizotomy. The success rate is between 40 and 75 percent, according the My-Spine.com.