Do you have a herniated disk that needs to be fixed? Don't just accept the verdict of laminectomy. There are alternatives to this operation that will help you recover sooner, so let's take a look.
Your spine is the support system for your entire body. It's natural for disks in your spine to wear out over time, but there are steps you can take to prevent significant back pain before it becomes too severe. One way is by strengthening core muscles that support your spine and maintaining good posture while lifting weights or making other repetitive motions that might cause strain on your back.
Possible causes of back pain
Spinal stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal. In cases like this, a disk fragment may bulge around a nerve root, creating pressure on your spine and causing you to have back pain. Good posture can reduce the pressure on disks, but sometimes disks become so stiff that they cannot be pushed out of the way of the spinal canal.
What is laminectomy?
Laminectomy is a surgical procedure used to relieve back pain or pressure on your spinal cord that results from spinal stenosis or a herniated disk. A laminectomy involves removing the lamina, the cartilage, and bone that surrounds the opening of your spinal canal, as well as adjacent disk material. The surgery is often performed to remove pressure on your nerves. In general, most surgeons will recommend laminectomy if you only have back pain but no loss of sensation in the limbs and if other conservative treatments have failed.
Laminectomy is a significant operation and has some very substantial risks: infection at the incision site, bleeding, blood clots, and delayed healing are among them. You may need to spend a week or longer in the hospital after a laminectomy.
Complications of laminectomy
Not all types of disk problems are serious, but you should get your doctor to check you out before considering a laminectomy. For example, nerve damage after laminectomy is typical. A laminectomy can be as dangerous as back surgery. Suppose you had significant complications like nerve damage, blood clots in your legs, or even more devastating problems like paralysis or death. In that case, you will probably want to get that kind of surgery if you are offered it. If these appear to be the risks for you, don't decide on laminectomy alone or just take what your doctor offers without talking to someone else who might give a different opinion.
In some cases, laminectomy surgery is necessary to prevent (or at least delay) the need for spinal fusion. Even though there is a risk involved with laminectomy, it is still considered a better option than a spinal fusion in some cases. In some cases where other choices have failed, and when the only option left is a spinal fusion, you might consider not going through with it if you have minimal symptoms.
Why are there alternatives to laminectomy?
In recent years, surgeons have begun to question whether or not laminectomy surgery should be the first line of treatment for all patients with back pain resulting from a herniated disk. People who undergo the procedure often suffer from devastating side effects that impact their quality of life and overall health.
A study conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in 2011 shows that about 1 in 4 people who have undergone laminectomy surgery to treat a herniated disk will develop complications. Some of these complications may include:
Back pain after surgery
The recovery takes longer than expected
Foreign body sensation is a feeling that some object is inside your body.
Involuntary muscle contraction
Spasms in the back muscles
Numbness or tingling of the extremities
To make matters worse, the benefits of laminectomy are often short-lived. 25% of people who have undergone this surgery for back pain will need another procedure within four years. It may sound like it's worth it to you to experience a laminectomy as long as you get relief from your back pain, but consider that the number one complication that results from laminectomy surgery is prolonged or permanent nerve damage. Whether you are young or old, and even if you don't have other health problems, there is always a risk involved when undergoing any kind of surgery.
What are the alternatives to this surgery?
While some surgical treatments for lumbar disk herniation include spinal fusion, most other options involve less invasive conservative treatment.
Stand-alone exercises can help strengthen your back and core muscles and reduce pressure on your nerves. Hanging leg raises and abdominal weight-bearing exercises are excellent choices.
Spinal decompression or fusion surgery is one of the most effective treatments for lumbar disk herniation. The operation involves removing the damaged portion of your spine and the soft tissue pressing against it. This surgery must be performed by a highly qualified specialist in neurologic surgery or neurosurgeon who understands the anatomy of the vertebrae within your spinal canal and how this affects effective treatment. Decompressive laminectomy implant from Premia Spine is one way to achieve effective treatment that does not involve the risks of spinal fusion surgery. Premia Spine is one of the few companies globally with FDA clearance for its decompressive laminectomy implant. The company has been performing this procedure for a long time. It has become an excellent surgical option for patients who cannot successfully undergo a traditional laminectomy or spinal fusion operation.
Spinal manipulation can relieve pain from lumbar disc herniation, a common cause of lower back pain. Some patients report significant improvement in pain after a few treatments. The American Chiropractic Association supports spinal manipulation as a safe, non-invasive treatment for most patients with low back pain. A chiropractor will scrutinize you before beginning your treatment and conduct detailed follow-ups to make adjustments as necessary.
If you are suffering from severe problems with your back, you need to consult a professional who can give you the best advice on managing the pain and getting back to everyday life.
Conclusion
Lower back pain is one of the most common issues many people face regularly. If conservative treatments aren't working or if your situation worsens despite your best efforts, it's wise to consult with a medical professional currently versed in all options for treatment. Hopefully, this article will have given you insight into possible alternatives to laminectomy that can help you recover sooner. We will be grateful for your feedback.
