Fusion surgery is sometimes necessary for patients who are unable to control the symptoms of degenerative spinal conditions through conservative, nonsurgical means. Many physicians will only recommend fusion surgery if a patient has consistently utilized nonsurgical treatments for at least several weeks or months and still has not found relief from their pain and discomfort. If your physician has recommended surgical treatment for a degenerative spinal condition, you likely have a multitude of questions. This article will hopefully clear up many of these issues in a broad sense. However, you should consult with your physician for answers that speak to you and your unique situation specifically.

Nonsurgical Treatments for Degenerative Spinal Conditions

If your physician has recommended fusion surgery, you may want to evaluate whether you’ve already utilized all available nonsurgical treatments before you consent to an operation. The list below is by no means exhaustive, but it does contain many of the most commonly recommended treatments.

– Medication – Over-the-counter, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, analgesics such as acetaminophen, prescription pain relievers, prescription muscle relaxants

– Physical therapy – Strengthening and stretching exercises, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound therapy, massage therapy

– Lifestyle modifications – Losing weight, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake

How Spinal Fusions Are Performed

If nonsurgical treatments have proven ineffective and your physician has recommended a fusion surgery, it’s in your best interest to understand how your operation will be performed. Keep in mind that your specific operation may deviate from the procedure outlined below.

– Your surgeon will make a large incision in your neck, back, throat, or abdomen that dissects musculature and other soft tissues

– The intervertebral disc that has caused neural compression will be identified and removed

– An intervertebral cage will be inserted in the now-empty disc space

– The intervertebral cage will be attached to the adjacent vertebrae with screws and surgical hardware

– Bone grafting material will be inserted into the intervertebral cage (the bone graft will eventually fuse the cage and vertebrae together)

Following your operation, you will likely stay in the hospital for about a week. You can expect a long and arduous rehabilitation and limited motion at the site of the spinal fusion.

Alternatives to Spinal Fusion

Some patients are candidates for minimally invasive procedures as an alternative to fusion surgery. These procedures are performed on an outpatient basis and don’t require the dissection of any musculature. Instead, an inch-long incision is made, a tube is inserted into the spine, and a camera (endoscope) and tiny surgical tools are funneled through the tube. Next, the surgeon removes only the portion of the affected intervertebral disc that is causing neural compression.

Minimally invasive procedures typically don’t require any overnight stays in the hospital, and most patients are able to resume their daily activities within a matter of weeks. Some patients even experience relief immediately following their procedures.

Before consenting to any operation – whether it’s a fusion surgery or minimally invasive procedure – you may want to receive a second or third opinion to make sure that an operation truly is necessary.

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 fusion surgery.

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 fusion surgery. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/spinal_fusion/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 fusion surgery.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: fusion surgery