After being diagnosed with a herniated disc, prescriptions may be given to you, as well as pain management techniques. As much as possible, doctors will wait for weeks to see if you heal by yourself before resorting to surgery. If the pain and weakness brought about by the herniated disc becomes too severe, then surgery is considered. Physical exams may take place to determine the effect of the condition on you and your reflexes. Several kinds of surgeries can be performed to cure your herniated disc.
Diskectomy is the most common form of herniated disc surgery. The goal of this surgery is to remove the part of your spine that has been pushed out. While having this procedure, spinal anesthesia at least is required, but most doctors suggest having general anesthesia. Only a small part of the disc will remain after a successful surgery. As with any other type of hernia surgery, restoring the original form of the back is a primary concern.
It is common for herniated discs to press on nerves that may cause their pressure and compression. In this case, a laminotomy or a laminectomy may also be performed in conjunction with the diskectomy. In this procedure, the small structures pressing on the nerves are removed. When a part of a joint is pressing on the nerves, its removal is called a facetectomy. All of these things, so far, can be a part of a single herniated disc surgery.
Microdiskectomy is a related herniated disc surgery, which can be an alternative for you. This procedure is minimally invasive, which means that the incision will be smaller. The doctor may be assisted by a microscope during the operation. This may be beneficial for you as it requires less recovery time.
Spinal fusion is another type of herniated disc surgery, which is only done in rare cases. In this type, some parts of the spine will be joined together during the operation. This means that after the surgery, you may have to learn new ways of moving, since the spinal column may not work it the same way it did prior the operation. You may want to ask for a second opinion when this is suggested to you by your doctor.
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