If you’re suffering from neck or back pain, you’ve likely sought out conservative treatment options such as pain medications and physical therapy. For many patients, these methods result in considerable pain relief, but they don’t always prove successful for everyone. If these approaches aren’t working for you, perhaps back surgery is a viable solution to your pain.

As with any major medical procedure, it is important that you carefully weigh all of your available options before deciding which type of surgery might be best for you. While you might think that open-back surgery is the only choice you have, also be sure to consider minimally invasive surgical procedures as an alternative. Much like open-back procedures, different endoscopic surgeries can address a variety of common degenerative spine conditions, including spinal stenosis, bone spurs, herniated discs, and pinched nerves. With that in mind, consider some of the advantages minimally invasive surgeries can provide you.

Start by thinking about the surgery itself. Whereas a more aggressive open-back operation generally requires a large incision to allow the surgeons access to the affected areas of the back, a minimally invasive back surgery requires only a very small incision that is generally less than an inch long. Why the big difference? Unlike traditional open-back surgeries, endoscopic surgeries rely on the use of small, state-of-the-art tools to perform the required tasks. In such a surgery, the surgeon will carefully insert a tube into the small incision in the back, and then feed a camera and tiny surgical instruments through the tube. With these tools in place, the surgeon can see and manipulate the internal structures of the back as necessary. Plus, the surgeon is also given the opportunity to gently push aside back muscles to access parts of the spine, rather than cutting through the muscles to reach the affected areas. Due to these differences, patients who select minimally invasive surgeries often experience less blood loss than those who choose open-back procedures.

The differences between open-back surgery and minimally invasive surgery also result in variations in recovery. A small incision from an endoscopic surgery heals more quickly than a larger incision from more aggressive procedures, making it less prone to infections and other complications that can arise during recovery. Plus, when the back muscles are left intact, the patient can heal more quickly. This advantage means that you may be able return to your typical routine more quickly than you might have thought.

Just remember that even with all of the benefits associated with endoscopic surgeries, there are still many risks involved, just as with any other type of surgical procedure. If you’re interested in back surgery, be sure to discuss your options with your physician. He or she may be able to tell you more about different surgical procedures, explain the risks involved, and give you advice about which options stand the best chance of alleviating your back pain. You also want to seek a second opinion from surgeons who have a background in endoscopic spine surgeries because they may be more familiar with the details of each procedure.

John Soland is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Soland is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to

John Soland is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Soland is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to laser back surgery. http://www.wfla.com/story/22642657/laser-surgery-proves-successful-for-patienst-with-back-problems-in-tampa-bay

Author Bio: John Soland is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Soland is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: laser back surgery, back pain, neck pain, back surgery