Spine Surgeons Resources
Resources
Spinal Fusion Alternative
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.
Back Surgery Information
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.
Lumbar Surgery
If your back condition progresses far enough and does not heal through conventional treatment, lumbar spine surgery may be recommended.
Neck Spurs Surgery
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.
Laser Back Surgery
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
Foraminotomy
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.
Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy
A percutaneous endoscopic laser discectomy only takes about half an hour to 45 minutes, and has an quick recovery afterwards.
Facet Thermal Ablation
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.
Spinal Fusion Alternative
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.
Laminotomy
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
Headaches
Some conditions that can be present in the cervical section of the spine may produce symptoms that include headaches, neck pain and stiffness.
Numbness
One of the more common symptoms to a pinched nerve is numbness in the extremity that is associated with the impinged nerve.
Radiating Pain
Radiating pain usually starts as a persistent pain felt in the buttocks and hips that radiates down the legs and into the feet.
Muscular Weakness
When nutrient rich blood is deprived from reaching its target muscle, often muscular atrophy may occur causing muscular weakness
Back Pain
Many injuries to the back will cause pain to the back while extending into the extremities.