@annie1027 Annie, Did the doctor explain exactly what decompression surgery is? They have to remove something to decompress a nerve. If that is part of an extruded herniated disc that is outside the spinal canal, sometimes that is removed, and those tend to re-herniate. These are questions to ask the surgeon. They are the expert to know what is best or what your options are. If a disc is bad and must be removed, something has to be placed in that space. It could be a bone disc for a fusion or it could be an artificial disk. A laminectomy cuts bone to enlarge the spinal canal, and doesn't remove a disc. Sometimes that is done along with disc removal and fusion. Every procedure has risks and outcomes. It's always a bit of a compromise and it won't be like never having had a spine problem. It is always good to get several opinions from surgeons you trust. Generally speaking, spine surgery at the lower end of the spine is a more difficult recovery and may have less predictable outcomes than cervical spine surgery. Leg issues and cramping may be caused by a cervical spine problem such as spinal cord compression or it may be caused by a lumbar spine problem.

Jennifer