Facet disease surgery should only be considered once you have discovered that no combination of conservative treatments is enough to manage your symptoms. Facet disease is a form of osteoarthritis that affects the paired joints where vertebrae meet and articulate. This condition can cause neck or back stiffness, focal pain, and/or other neurological symptoms. It is incurable, but symptoms normally can be managed with pain medication, exercise, stretching, corticosteroid injections, and other conservative (nonsurgical) methods. It often takes time to find just the right combination of conservative treatment methods, and a trial-and-error period is not uncommon.

If Conservative Treatment is not Enough

As spinal osteoarthritis progresses, the cartilage that lines the facet joints begins to wear down. The joints begin to lose their ability to contribute to a wide range of smooth back or neck movement, and bone from one vertebra may begin to grate on bone from another. As the vertebral segment loses stability, adjacent nerve roots may become vulnerable to compression. Facet disease that produces nerve compression will almost certainly require professional medical attention. Again, conservative treatment is generally enough to manage nerve compression symptoms, but not always. After you have exhausted the broad range of conservative treatment methods available, you may want to consider facet disease surgery if you continue to experience:

– Constant pain or pain that reoccurs frequently

– Symptoms that interfere with sleep

– Symptoms that prevent you from functioning at your job

– Symptoms that prevent you from performing other daily activities

Research Your Options

Before you consent to any type of facet disease surgery, be sure to ask your physician to thoroughly explain all of your options, along with the risks and potential side effects of each surgical approach. Seek a second, or even a third opinion. Ask neighbors, relatives, coworkers, or other people you trust to describe their experiences with neck or back surgery, if applicable. Once you’ve settled on a procedure type, find a surgeon you’re comfortable with and who has demonstrated success with this particular surgery over a period of years. Make sure you are prepared to dedicate as much time as required to rehabilitation and recuperation, and that your family members understand your need for their support as you recover.

Perhaps most importantly, be sure to ask your doctor, spine specialist, and surgeon about risks and potential side effects of your procedure. Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is an all-too-common problem, and it can be extremely unpredictable. Infection can set in after surgery, spinal fusion hardware can fail, and bone graft material can be rejected. The list of what can go wrong is daunting, but you should go into the experience with your eyes wide open. Rather than discouraging you from moving forward with the surgery, learning as much as possible about the procedure and its potential aftermath might actually help ease some of your fears. Just be sure to leave no stone unturned as you explore your surgical options, and prepare yourself mentally for any eventuality.

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.

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 facet disease and other spinal conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/facet_disease/

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