Most people can avoid facet disease surgery by managing their symptoms using a regimen of conservative treatment methods that might include pain medication, lifestyle modification, exercise, stretching, spinal injections, and more. However, should chronic pain, stiffness, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness persist after several weeks or months of conservative treatment, it might be time to consider your surgical options.

What Is Facet Disease?

Facet disease is another name for spinal arthritis or spinal osteoarthritis that affects the facet joints, which are hinge-like points of connection between the stacked vertebrae. Degeneration of joint cartilage, usually as part of the aging process, can expose joint nerve endings or destabilize an affected section of the spine. This destabilization can lead to the growth of osteophytes (bone spurs), which can impinge nearby nerve roots. It can also produce other degenerative spine conditions, such a herniated disc, a bulging disc, vertebral slippage (spondylolisthesis), or spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal or other nerve passageways in the spine). When these anatomical abnormalities are present, the spinal cord and/or adjacent nerve roots become vulnerable to compression. The goal of facet disease surgery is to relieve, or decompress, these impinged neural components. This can be accomplished in one of several different ways. Two common surgeries for facet disease include:

– Facetectomy – Complete removal of a facet joint
– Facet rhizotomy or facet thermal ablation – Deadening of joint’s nerve ending with a heat source, often a laser

Do Your Research

Once the decision has been made to undergo facet disease surgery, the research begins. Start by asking your primary care physician about the different surgical options available for your particular condition. Your choice will depend on several factors, primarily the location of the nerve compression and the severity of your symptoms. There are a number of decompression procedures available, including highly invasive spinal fusion and minimally invasive procedures performed with the aid of an endoscope.

No matter what type of facet disease surgery you decide upon, you’ll want to find the best surgeon available. You can start your search by asking your doctor, friends, or family members for recommendations. Before making a final decision, flesh out your research by asking your prospective surgeon the following questions:

– Are you board certified?
– How much experience do you have with this kind of surgery?
– What can you tell me about your spinal surgery fellowship, and when did you serve it?
– What professional associations are you affiliated with?
– How many procedures are performed at your practice or clinic each year?
– What is your success rate?
– Have you received any professional awards? If so, what were they and how recently were they received?

It Comes Down to Trust

Once you’ve developed a good sense of the credentials of your prospective surgeon, take the time to get to know him or her on an interpersonal level. Bedside manner is extremely important. You don’t necessarily have to be friends with your surgeon, but you do need to feel comfortable asking questions and establish a level of trust. Whether your prognosis is for recovery in several weeks, or it is determined that it may take as long as a year for you to recuperate, an open, cordial channel of communication between you and your surgeon is vital.

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of facet disease and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Facet disease