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Types of Disc Surgery

Types of Disc Surgery

Disc surgery is typically seen as an elective procedure to address an individual’s pain or neurological symptoms when all conservative, non-surgical pain management techniques have failed. Advances in modern medicine and laser technology have made endoscopic disc surgery a viable alternative to open back surgery. Now, in addition to massively invasive spinal fusion and disc arthroplasty, many patients are finding meaningful pain relief from their disc disorders with an outpatient procedure from Laser Spine Institute (LSI).

A spinal disc is a soft, spongy intervertebral pad which cushions the vertebrae. Along with the facet joints, the discs give us the flexibility and mobility that we require, while allowing the spine to handle the stress of supporting our body weight. Unsurprisingly, the discs between the C1-C7 (neck) and L1-L5 (low back) vertebrae are particularly prone to deterioration or injury. A disc that has become damaged can come into contact with one of the nearby nerve roots or the spinal cord, causing pain and other neurological symptoms. Nerves in the spine are responsible for sending and receiving signals across the body, so when they are irritated, a number of symptoms can present, including local pain, traveling pain radiating along the nerve, muscle weakness, numbness, tingling, and more.

In most instances, disc disorders can be managed with the conservative, non-surgical pain management techniques. After diagnosing the source of the pain or radiculopathy, a physician will normally prescribe some combination of painkillers and exercise until the pain is alleviated.

In some instances, symptoms persist despite conservative treatment and surgery is the only viable option for relieving a patient’s pain. Some of the most common types of disc surgery used to decompress nerves and alleviate pain include:

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The common bond among these procedures is that they all are used to relieve pressure placed on the nerves by a symptomatic disc, but otherwise, the difference between open back surgery at a hospital – and endoscopic spine surgery at Laser Spine Institute – is stark. Where open back surgery requires hospitalization, massive collateral tissue damage, disc removal, the introduction of hardware and grafting, lengthy rehabilitation, and long-term side-effects, endoscopic spine surgery does not. Instead, with an endoscopic procedure at LSI, the surgeon uses a state-of-the-art, computer-assisted laser to gently remove the portion of the disc that is causing problems. These procedures offer an unmatched level of precision that allows the surgeon to pinpoint the source of the discomfort, remove it, and allow the patient to get back to a pain-free life quicker than ever before.

To learn more about this exciting field of orthopedic disc procedures at Laser Spine Institute, and for a free review of your MRI or CT scan, contact LSI today.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.

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