Minimally invasive lumbar surgery, like any surgery, should not be considered lightly. Although the term “minimally invasive” refers to a procedure done with an extremely small incision that avoids any muscle damage, you should still try conventional, non-invasive pain relief alternatives before moving forward with surgery. A daily schedule of mild exercise, light stretching, rest, and over-the-counter or prescription pain medications may prove beneficial.
If, however, these treatments are not effective and your lumbar spine pain is severe, you may want to consider a minimally invasive surgery. These types of procedures require a 4-5 millimeter incision through which a tiny tube, called an endoscope, is inserted. The tube gently moves aside muscle and tissue so that a series of instruments can be used to ease nerve root compression in the lumbar region. This is accomplished with procedures such as foraminotomy, laminotomy, percutaneous endoscopic discectomy, and facet thermal ablation.
These procedures can be used to treat a variety of conditions including:
- Herniated disc
- Bulging disc
- Bone spurs
- Spinal stenosis
- Ligament hypertrophy
- Osteoarthritis
- Degenerative disc disease
If your physician has recommended that you consider spinal surgery, Laser Spine Institute (LSI) would like to talk to you about our options for minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery. Our team of experts is at the forefront of endoscopic spine medicine. Contact us today for a free review of your MRI or CT scan.
