Spine Surgeons Resources
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When spinal fusion surgery is performed there is a loss of mobility in that particular region of the spine. Because the spine is very mobile when you fuse vertebrae together you cause extreme wear and tear on the vertebrae and discs above and below the area fused.
The most common back surgery to date is performed on the lower back. This is only natural seeing as how it is the lower back that supports the majority of our weight, and is more often then not the most abused part of the back.
If your back condition progresses far enough and does not heal through conventional treatment, lumbar spine surgery may be recommended.
If conservative treatment methods have failed you and you are still looking for relief, an anterior cervical discectomy may help to relieve your chronic neck pain.
A laminotomy uses an arthroscopic approach to opening the spinal canal for laser spine surgery. With no need for general anesthesia laser spine surgery can be performed in an outpatient surgical setting.
Treatments
A foraminotomy is performed to relieve the symptoms of nerve root compression in cases where the foramen is being compressed by bone, disc, scar tissue, or excessive ligament development and results in a pinched nerve.
A percutaneous endoscopic laser discectomy only takes about half an hour to 45 minutes, and has an quick recovery afterwards.
The facet joints are the joint structures that connect the vertebrae to one another. Thermal ablation refers to the laser eradication of the effected nerve.
Fusion can cause extreme wear and tear on the vertebrae (and discs) above and below the area of the fusion because they are trying to compensate for the area that is now immobile possibly leading to new herniated discs, bone spurs, foraminal narrowing and spinal stenosis.
When a laminotomy is performed the muscles are pushed out of the way and are not torn or cut. This procedure allows treatment with minimal damage to the surrounding muscles.
Symptoms
Some conditions that can be present in the cervical section of the spine may produce symptoms that include headaches, neck pain and stiffness.
One of the more common symptoms to a pinched nerve is numbness in the extremity that is associated with the impinged nerve.
Radiating pain usually starts as a persistent pain felt in the buttocks and hips that radiates down the legs and into the feet.
When nutrient rich blood is deprived from reaching its target muscle, often muscular atrophy may occur causing muscular weakness
Many injuries to the back will cause pain to the back while extending into the extremities.