Microdecompression spine surgery is one solution for patients with herniated lumbar discs. This minimally invasive surgery, also sometimes known as a microdiscectomy, involves removing part of the herniated disc. This helps relieve some of the pressure on the nerves, which can alleviate the pain that patients with herniated lumbar discs experience.
What Is Involved in Microdecompression Spine Surgery?
When a patient comes in for this surgery, they go through the pre-op process, which involves being prepped for surgery and having anesthesia administered. With the patient positioned face-down, the surgeon creates an incision right above the disc. Depending on the herniation, the surgeon may need to remove some of the bone around the root nerve. The surgeon will then remove some of the damaged herniated disc before closing the incision. The patient is then taken to the recovery room.
In many cases, patients can be discharged the same day or the next day. They may experience pain reduction almost at once, though they may need to avoid twisting, heavy lifting, bending and lifting during the first two weeks. They may also need to do some exercises targeting the muscles of the back. Full recovery may take up to six weeks, though light activity can be resumed almost immediately after surgery.
Am I a Candidate for Microdecompresson Spine Surgery?
This surgical procedure is often a choice for patients with herniated discs or sciatica pain. It is not effective if you have back pain caused by other injuries or problems.
Microdiscectomy is especially effective for patients with radiculopathy or sciatica pain in the leg. Patients with these conditions usually notice immediate pain relief after the treatment. Herniated lumbar discs can also cause weakness or numbness of the foot and leg. If you have this type of pain, it can take longer to recover. In some cases, it can take weeks or months for the root nerve to heal fully after surgery, which is when numbness and weakness will end.
To have good results, you must be healthy enough to withstand the surgery and to be placed under general anesthesia. Even though it is minimally invasive, there are risks. You need to understand the risks and be comfortable with them.
Getting Help
To find out whether you’re a candidate, you may wish to discuss your back issues with the professionals at Alliance Orthopedics. We can explore all the options that may help you Get Better Faster.
At Alliance Orthopedics, we understand that pain goes far beyond a physical symptom. It can affect your emotions, sleep, overall health, relationships, ability to work and more. Our specialist team brings neuro rehab, pain management, orthopedic knowledge, functional medicine, sports medicine and other specialties to the table to tackle your pain head-on.
Our team understands you deserve the best. That’s why we offer concierge service and can even help you get a same day appointment so you don’t have to wait in pain. Our free MRI review and our careful explanation of insurance help you make the right decisions for you. To find out more, make an appointment with us today.