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The first step when treating a condition that involves nerve compression is to get a correct diagnosis. This can be performed by a variety of physicians. Primary care physicians, urologists, physiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons. They all can make a correct diagnosis. If a diagnosis is confirmed and the patient has not improved with conservative treatments, conservative treatments would be things such as exercises, medications, physical therapy, or perhaps an injection, then the next step is a surgical consultation. Either an orthopedic spine surgeon or a neurosurgeon can help provide guidance regarding surgical treatment options. During such a visit, one can review the options highlighted above. Foraminotomy, which is that procedure that we talked about within the foramen, a discectomy, which is a procedure where the disc is removed, or a laminotomy, where a portion of the bone of the back of the spine called the lamina is removed. It should be noted that if a person has arm or leg weakness from a compressed nerve, this will require immediate attention.
