If you have a spinal injury or disorder, you must consult a neurologist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Surgery may be necessary for some people to help treat severe spine injuries or afflictions. In this article, we are going to go in-depth about what spine surgery entails and when it’s appropriate for specific injuries.
What is Spine Surgery?
The spine is a complex structure of bones, ligaments, and muscles that work together to protect the spinal cord and allow the body to move. Spine surgery is performed on the spine to correct problems with the spine, such as degenerative issues, herniated discs, or spondylosis. There are many different types of spine surgery; the type of surgery that is right for a particular patient depends on their specific condition. In general, however, spine surgery involves making an incision in the skin over the spine, exposing it, and then correcting the problem with either implant or by removing part of the spine.
What are the Signs of a Spine Injury?
There are different types of spine injuries, but they have some common symptoms. If you have any of these, it’s important to see a doctor immediately to get the treatment you need.
- Back Pain: One common symptom of a spine injury is pain. It can be a sharp, shooting pain or a dull, throbbing pain. It may be constant or intermittent. It can also radiate from the injury site to other parts of your body, such as your arms or legs.
- Tingling Sensation or Numbness: Another common symptom is numbness or tingling. It is usually caused by nerve damage and can make it difficult to feel anything in the affected area.
- Partial or Complete Paralysis: In some cases, spinal injuries can also cause paralysis. It happens when the spinal cord is completely damaged and can’t send signals to the muscles below the injured area. Paralysis can be partial or complete, and it may be temporary or permanent.
Who Needs a Spine Surgery?
Spine surgery is usually required when other treatments, such as pain medication and physical therapy, have failed to relieve a person’s back or neck pain. These Spine surgical procedures may also be an option for people who have sustained a spinal injury or have a deformity in their spine.
Therefore, Spine surgeries can be performed to treat several conditions, including:
- Herniated discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal stenosis
- Scoliosis
- Spondylolisthesis
Types of Spine Surgery
There are many different types of spine surgery, and the type that is right for you will depend on your particular condition. However, here are some of the most common types of spine surgery:
- Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF): This surgery is performed through an incision in the front of the neck. It is used to treat herniated discs and other problems in the cervical spine.
- Laminectomy: This surgery is performed through an incision in the back. It is used to treat spinal stenosis, which can cause nerve pain and other symptoms.
- Spinal Fusion: This surgery is performed by fusing two or more vertebrae. It helps treat various conditions, including spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease.
- Cervical Disc Replacement: This surgery involves replacing a damaged disc in the cervical spine with an artificial disc. It is less invasive than spinal fusion and may be an option for some patients.
Your surgeon will recommend the best type of surgery for your particular condition. Be sure to ask any questions you have so that you understand all of your options.
Post-operative Care after Spine Surgery
After Surgery, it is important to follow your doctor’s orders for post-operative care. It may include taking pain medication, resting, and avoiding strenuous activity. You will likely need to wear a brace or support device for a while. In addition, physical therapy can help you regain strength and mobility. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and contact them if you have any questions or concerns.
When Should You Consider A Spine Surgery?
There are many situations when you should consider spine surgery. Some of them include:
- Damage to one or more of the discs that support the spine’s bones, known as herniated or ruptured discs.
- A spinal column narrowing spinal stenosis, which presses on the spinal cord and nerves.
- Spondylolisthesis is when one or more spine bones move out of position.
- Vertebral fractures are brought on by osteoporosis or spinal bone trauma.
- Age-related spinal disc damage, such as degenerative disc disease.
Types Of Spine Surgeries
There are many kinds of spine surgeries:
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Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty: These treatments fix vertebral compression fractures brought on by osteoporosis.
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Spinal decompression and Laminectomy: This procedure is carried out when spinal stenosis causes a spinal canal narrowing that result in pain, numbness, or weakness.
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Discectomy: When a disc has herniated, pressing on the spinal cord or a nerve root, it is removed using this procedure.
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Foraminotomy: This surgery treats foraminal stenosis, which is a condition of narrowing down of the spinal nerve opening.
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Nucleoplasty: It is also known as plasma disc decompression. People who suffer from mildly herniated disk-related low back pain can be treated with this laser surgery using radiofrequency energy.
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Vertebral fusion: Also known as spinal fusion or spondylodesis, it is a neurosurgical technique to join two or more vertebrae.
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Artificial disc substitution: It is a treatment option for people with severely damaged discs in place of spinal fusion.
Benefits of Spine Surgery
Spine surgery has many benefits that can help improve your quality of life. This surgery can relieve pain, correct deformities, and improve your ability to move and function. It can also help relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves and stabilize the spine. In addition, spine surgical procedures are typically safe and effective, and most people experience significant improvements in their symptoms after surgery.
Conclusion
We hope this article has given you a better understanding of spin surgery and what to expect if you or a loved one are considering it. Surgery is not always the right choice, but it can be life-changing for some people. Be sure to talk to your doctor or any best neurologist in Mumbai about your options and make the right decision for you.
