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Orthopedic Spine
Is Spinal Surgery for Pain Necessary?
It is reasonable to consider spinal surgery if the pain has not diminished after months of non surgical treatment. If physical therapy or interventional pain management does not resolve your pain symptoms where you can comfortably complete your basic daily activities, you might want to consider surgery. Aggravating pain can affect more than just ones body. It can also affect one's ability mentally, causing post dramatic stress, loss of sleep, fatigue, mood swings, sexual frustration, and stress to a spouse and family members.
We Offer the Following Procedures
Cervical/Thoracic/Lumbar Discectomy
A discectomy is a surgical procedure that removes part of the spinal disc material to reduce the compression of a nerve. This is usually seen on an MRI as a Disc Bulge, Annular Tear, or Disc Type Herniation. Sometimes, an MRI machine or radiologist who reads the MRI can miss read an image, or the machine may not depict damages that cause pain systems. Compressed nerves can cause multiple pain systems such as burning, shooting, stabbing, numbness, and weakness in upper and lower extremities. It can also cause sexual disfunction and loss of bladder control. Depending on the location of a Disc Bulge, Annular Tear, or Disc Herniation, you may experience one or more of these pain symptoms. In some cases where there is multiple disc damaged, you may need to perform this procedure on multiple levels.
Total Disc Replacement
The goals of artificial disc replacement surgery are to: 1) remove the diseased disc; 2) restore normal disc height; 3) decrease discogenic pain; 4) preserve motion in the affected vertebral segment; and 5) improve patient function. The greatest benefit of artificial disc replacement surgery is that it allows your spine to bend, twist, and flex normally. Unlike spinal fusion, which limits the movement of your spine by fusing two vertebrae together, disc replacement only affects the one vertebral set that houses the diseased disk. According to the FDA, however, this surgery has a success rate of more than 90%. Unlike spinal fusion surgery, which has a success rate of 70 to 90%, artificial disc replacement surgery for the cervical or lumbar spine has over 90%, making it a more effective and reliable procedure. After the procedure, you will gradually start returning to normal activities. You should ask your surgeon about any activity restrictions and when you can take a regular shower or bath. You may start physical therapy after a few weeks. You should be able to return to full activities by 4 to 6 weeks.
Laminectomy is surgery that removes the lamina. This is part of the bone that makes up a vertebra in the spine. Laminectomy may also be done to remove bone spurs or a herniated (slipped) disk in your spine. During a laminectomy, a surgeon takes out most or all of the lamina. This is considered major surgery and typically isn't performed unless conservative treatment options have failed. Laminectomy may be done to ease pressure on the spinal nerves, treat a disk problem, or remove a tumor from the spine. One common reason for having a laminectomy is a herniated disk in the spine. A disk may be displaced or damaged because of injury or wear and tear. Laminectomy may be performed on the cervical, lumbar, sacral, or thoracic spine. In general, here's what to expect: After a minor (decompressive) laminectomy, you are usually able to return to light activity (desk work and light housekeeping) within a few days to a few weeks.
Laminectomy / Laminotomy
Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion may be done if you have injuries or fractures to the bones in the spine. Weak or unstable spine caused by infections, tumor extrusion type disc herniation. Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one vertebrae slips forward on top of another. Spinal fusion is a major surgery and medical procedure used to treat spine injuries. The surgery includes using rods or plates and screws and bone grafts to stabilize the spine. This surgery is usually a last resort after other treatments have been tried and failed. During the procedure, the surgeon connects two or more vertebrae. This prevents motion in that area and can reduce pain. The goal is to fuse the vertebrae together to prevent abnormal motion of the spine. After surgery, you can expect your back to feel stiff and sore. You may have trouble sitting or standing in one position for very long. It may take 4 to 6 weeks to get back to doing simple activities, such as light housework.
Meet Our Doctors
Some surgical procedure options are minimally invasive and allow for quick recovery, while other types of surgeries are more extensive.