A herniated disc occurs when the outer wall (annulus fibrosus) of an intervertebral disc ruptures and allows the gel-like inner disc material to leak out into the spinal canal. Similar to a bulging disc, but typically more painful, a ruptured disc can cause a number of symptoms if the extruded material comes in contact with the spinal cord or a nerve root. Sometimes, surgery is recommended or even required to help relieve the pressure exerted on those neural structures.

There are two main types of herniated disc surgery: open spine surgery and endoscopic procedures. While both methods aim to mitigate nerve compression caused by a herniated disc, the approach that each of these surgical methods takes to achieve this goal is different:

– Open spine surgery – This form of surgery involves a large incision in the neck, throat, abdomen, or lower back and the dissection of muscles and other soft tissues. A large portion of spinal anatomy is removed, sometimes including the entire herniated disc, and spinal fusion may be performed to permanently fuse adjacent vertebrae and improve spinal stability. Recovery from open spine surgery is often lengthy and arduous. Patients may be out of work for three months or longer. In some cases, a patient may experience failed back surgery syndrome, a condition in which symptoms worsen or new discomfort arises following open spine surgery.

– Endoscopic procedures – These procedures involve a small incision in the neck or lower back, typically less than one inch in length. Instead of cutting through soft tissues completely, a series of tubes is inserted into the incision, traveling down to the affected area of the spine. Each tube successively increases in diameter, so that the tissues are gently pushed aside. An endoscope (camera), small surgical tools, and a laser are funneled through the widest tube and are used to remove a small amount of bone or disc material to relieve neural compression. Recovery from an endoscopic procedure tends to be faster and less arduous than the recovery period associated with open spine surgery, mostly because the soft tissues surrounding the spine are kept largely intact.

Is Herniated Disc Surgery Recommended for All Herniated Disc Patients?

In the majority of herniated disc cases, surgery will typically be considered only as the last-resort treatment. In fact, only a small percentage of patients with the condition will be candidates for surgery. Herniated disc surgery may become an option for a patient in otherwise good health if:

– Several months or weeks of conservative (nonsurgical) treatment methods have been unable to mitigate a patient’s symptoms and he or she is debilitated (unable to stand, walk, etc.) as a result. Conservative treatments – such as pain medication, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and hot/cold therapy, among others – are usually part of a patient’s initial treatment plan, as these methods are regarded throughout the mainstream medical community as being generally effective for symptom mitigation.

– Severe, traumatic injury to the spine has caused the development of a herniated disc, and immediate surgery is required to treat the injuries.

– The patient loses the ability to control normal bowel and bladder functions. When bladder and bowel dysfunction occur, a patient should go immediately to an emergency room.

Obtain Multiple Opinions

Before consenting to any form of physician-recommended herniated disc surgery, it’s important that a patient consult several other physicians and spine specialists for additional opinions. This isn’t to say that a patient’s diagnosing physician is off base for suggesting surgery, but it can help a patient confirm that all conservative therapies have been attempted and learn whether other physicians would also recommend surgery as a treatment option.

If you’re considering undergoing herniated disc surgery, and multiple medical professionals agree that surgery is your next best course of action, be sure to learn all you can about the surgical options available to you.

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 herniated disc surgery options as well as procedures for 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 herniated disc surgery options. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/herniated_disc/treatment/surgery/

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 herniated disc surgery options as well as procedures for several other spinal conditions.

Category: Advice
Keywords: herniated disc surgery