|
Herniated Disc Surgery
* Minimally Invasive Herniated Disc Surgery Herniated Disc Surgery IndicationsBack surgery should never even be considered until all conservative treatment measures have been unsuccessfully attempted. Even the least invasive surgery is still serious business and can cause permanent changes to your health and functionality. Surgical intervention is typically doctor recommended for patients who complain of ongoing symptoms which have not improved, despite treatment from a variety of noninvasive modalities.Some patients are frightened or pressured into premature surgical intervention by an orthopedic surgeon who believes the answer to every back pain condition is to simply cut the person open and alter the spine. While this is not only rushed treatment, the curative results from premature operative interventions are even lower than the already dismal statistics demonstrated by many appropriate surgical techniques. Herniated Disc Surgery ProceduresThere are an ever growing number of surgical options to choose when designing a disc pain operation. There are 4 basic surgical philosophies used in treating herniated discs:* Artificial disc replacement removes the old organic disc and replaces it with an artificial spinal disc. This technique shows enlightened theory, since it preserves normal spinal function by maintaining individual vertebral level movement. * Remove part of the offending disc to remove pressure off affected spinal nerve roots or the spinal cord. Some minimally invasive techniques might work quite well, although some particular procedures are virtually ineffective. * Remove the offending disc and perform a spinal fusion to prevent further movement of the operated vertebral level. This is a completely barbaric and antiquated surgical approach and is almost never truly indicated for disc conditions. However, it is still a popular treatment option. * Utilize some alternative surgical approach to permanently or temporarily resolve symptoms, such as treating overly sensitized surrounding nerve tissue, even though the actual offending disc is left alone. Herniated Disc Surgery ResultsWhile some surgeries are both indicated and successful, the overwhelming majority are completely unnecessary and many fail miserably. Surgery is one of the riskiest treatments for any back pain condition and offers some of the worst curative results when compared to other less hazardous therapy options, such as noninvasive spinal decompression. Surgical intervention has spawned an army of permanently disabled people who went into the operating room hoping to find a cure for their pain, but came out functionally deficient, still in pain and now with limited options for future treatment. Not one week goes by that I do not receive several letters from patients who regret having undergone spinal surgery. Not only are they still suffering, but in many cases, the pain has gotten much worse and the doctors have simply stopped returning their calls…Advice on Herniated Disc SurgeryThe bottom line on any type of spinal surgery is super simple…IF AT ALL POSSIBLE… DON’T DO IT! While surgery is the only treatment for some rare and serious spinal conditions, it is seldom needed for herniated discs and virtually never required for degenerative disc disease. Before even thinking seriously about surgery, you must do your own research and get the facts about failed back surgery syndrome. This is truly an epidemic condition which ruins the lives of millions of patients. Unfortunately for many, there is no way of undoing the untold damage caused by inappropriate and unneeded spinal surgeries. For these poor souls, it might just be too late… Don’t become a negative statistic. Think clearly now and do whatever is possible to avoid surgery. There are other non-surgical options… For those patients who must undergo surgery for a truly indicated condition, plan your procedure and choose your surgeon very carefully. These factors will make a world of difference in the state you will be in after the operation. Do not simply accept the first surgical option suggested by only one doctor. Shop for alternate opinions and you might just discover that there is a way to avoid the operating table after all. For all the patients who are worse off after surgery, I send a blanket apology… I wish I had a better answer to your many questions about what you should do now. I wish I had the solution for your downward spiraling health. I wish I could have spoken to you BEFORE you decided to go through with that operation… Please take the time to share your own disc pain story on our HERNIATED DISC FORUM Please subscribe to our FREE E-Zine, The Herniated Disc Newsletter. 6/12/08 Revised 11/27/08
|
