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When conservative treatments do not provide adequate relief from neck or back pain, spine surgery may be recommended. The goal of surgery is to repair the structural source of symptoms, offering a path toward long-lasting pain relief. A comprehensive examination and diagnostic tests from a spine neurosurgeon are necessary to determine the cause of your pain before exploring surgical options.
What Does Spine Surgery Treat?
Spine surgery addresses a wide range of conditions that affect the different regions of the spine. These procedures are often looked at when a condition causes effects that affect one’s quality of life, such as chronic pain, limited mobility, or nerve damage that does not improve with nonsurgical treatments. Common conditions treated with spine surgery include:
- Herniated Disc: This occurs when the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes out through a tear in its exterior, often compressing nearby nerves and causing pain, tingling, or weakness.
- Spinal Stenosis: A narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: The age-related breakdown of spinal discs, which can lead to pain and instability.
- Scoliosis and Kyphosis: Spinal deformities characterized by abnormal sideways or forward curvature of the spine.
A medical professional can determine if surgery is right for your circumstances.
What Types of Surgery Exist?
A spine neurosurgeon will determine the most appropriate surgical approach for your specific condition. Many procedures can now be performed using minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) techniques, which involve smaller incisions and specialized instruments. Common types of spine surgery include:
- Microdiscectomy: A minimally invasive procedure to remove the herniated portion of a disc that is pressing on a nerve. This is a common treatment for sciatica and radiculopathy.
- Laminectomy: This decompression procedure involves removing the lamina to create more space in the spinal canal and relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. It is frequently used to treat spinal stenosis.
- Spinal Fusion: This operation permanently connects two or more vertebrae to eliminate motion between them, creating a single, solid bone. Fusion provides stability and is used to treat conditions like spondylolisthesis, fractures, or instability following a decompression procedure.
- Artificial Disc Replacement: As an alternative to fusion, this procedure involves removing a damaged disc and replacing it with a mechanical device that preserves spinal motion. This can reduce stress on adjacent spinal segments and may allow for a quicker recovery.
MISS can lead to less muscle damage, reduced blood loss, faster recovery, and a lower risk of infection compared to traditional open surgery.
How Do You Prepare?
Thorough preparation is a key part of the surgical process. Your medical team will guide you through the necessary steps before your procedure. You will undergo a medical evaluation, which may include laboratory tests. Minimally invasive surgeries may be performed as outpatient procedures, allowing you to go home the same day. For more complex operations like fusions, a hospital stay of several days may be required. Pain will be managed with medication, and you will be encouraged to get up and walk soon after your surgery. This can help to promote recovery and prevent complications like blood clots.
Confer With a Spine Neurosurgeon
Your treatment plan will be tailored to your specific condition, and open communication with your neurosurgeon is fundamental to a successful outcome. Be sure to ask questions and understand the risks and benefits associated with your recommended procedure. A specialist can provide the expert guidance needed to make an informed decision about your spinal health, helping you prepare for a smooth recovery.
