Sciatica surgery may become a consideration for you if several months of conservative, noninvasive treatments, such as pain medication, physical therapy, and behavior modification, have proven ineffective. The type of procedure that is performed for sciatica will depend on the underlying cause of your sciatic nerve compression, but in general, a discectomy or laminectomy paired with spinal fusion are the standard surgical options. These are both highly invasive surgeries that involve removing a large portion of the spinal anatomy in the lower back. Hospitalization and general anesthesia are required, and a bone graft and/or stabilizing hardware will be necessary to facilitate vertebral fusion.

What to Expect After Open Back Sciatica Surgery

The procedure itself may only take a few hours, though patients should be prepared for what comes after surgery. Rehabilitation after an open spine sciatica surgery can be long and arduous – it is not uncommon for many patients to feel worse before they feel better. The best ways to make the post-surgical recovery process as easy as possible is to be prepared by:

– Forming a strong support system – Ask family, friends, and neighbors to help you after your surgery. Whether this means driving you to or from the procedure, going to the pharmacy to pick up your prescription medications, or doing some grocery shopping for you, it can be extremely helpful to know that the weight of everyday tasks has been lifted from your shoulders.

– Listening to your body – Pay attention to your recovery process. Try not to speed up your rehabilitation by overexerting yourself or taking on too many activities too early. Know your limits and be patient with yourself. While you should make an effort to eat well, stay hydrated, get plenty of sleep, and exercise when your doctor gives you the go-ahead, you cannot force your body to heal faster than it wants to.

– Staying in close communication with your doctor – Be sure not to miss any follow-up appointments with your doctor after the surgery. You will likely need to get a series of post-op checkups so that the doctor can monitor how the incision site is healing, track how well the vertebrae are fusing, and look for signs of infection.

Am I a Candidate for a Minimally Invasive Procedure?

There are minimally invasive alternatives to spinal fusion as a form of sciatica surgery. These procedures use endoscopic technology and do not require general anesthesia, a large incision, hospitalization, or an arduous rehabilitation. One type of endoscopic surgery performed to treat sciatic nerve compression is a foraminotomy. This procedure removes a small portion of bone surrounding a foramen, or a canal through which a spinal nerve root exits the spinal column. When performed on a patient with sciatica, the goal of a foraminotomy is to relieve the pressure from the compressed sciatic nerve root that is causing symptoms.

It’s important to note that not all patients who suffer from sciatica will be candidates for a minimally invasive procedure. Do some research to find surgeons and facilities that offer endoscopic spine procedures, and contact them to find out if this type of procedure could be used successfully in your case.

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 sciatica 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 sciatica and other conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/sciatica_sciatic_nerve_pain/

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 sciatica and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: sciatica