Your foramina are the holes in your verterbrae through which your nerves, including your spinal cord, pass.

Some people develop a condition where the foramina become too small and apply pressure on nerves in the space in the vertebra near a nerve root. This can lead to discomfort, back pain, numbness and tingling. The effects may be felt in other parts of your body, depending on which nerve is “pinched”. In order to relieve this pressure on the nerves a surgical procedure called Foraminotomy may be performed. The name of the procedure is derived from the Latin words ‘Foramen’ and ‘Otomy’ Otomy means to cut open and Foramen refers to a hole or an opening.

The foramina may become compressed by bone, scar tissue, disc or development of extra ligament tissue and begins to pinch a nerve. The procedure can be performed with minimal disturbance to the surrounding supporting tissue. The surgeon removes the tissue or the bone that is pressing on the nerves. Some patients have reported immediate relief as the pressure is released but this result varies with each patient and the condition of the disorder.

After the procedure the patient is monitored for a few hours or perhaps a day or two before the surgeon may decide to let the patient go home. There will normally be a couple of post-operative visits to the surgeon. Most people resume their normal activities after a few weeks.

Have you had this procedure? Please share your experience.