Am I A Good Candidate For Laser Back Surgery

For the millions of Americans who suffer from chronic back pain every year, relief can seem elusive or even impossible. Chronic back pain is debilitating in ways that people who haven't experienced it cannot imagine. Simple tasks like grocery shopping become challenging and painful; activities with friends and  children are limited; old hobbies are abandoned, and just getting through the workday becomes a challenge.

Worst of all, there seems to be no end in sight, as treatment after treatment has no effect. Traditional surgery is invasive and entails a long time out of work; non-surgical options have been tried and failed.

If any of the above sounds like you, laser back surgery may be the right choice for you.

The first step to finding out if your back pain can be treated with laser back surgery is to get a diagnosis. Many of the most common spine problems can now be treated in an outpatient setting with laser surgery. Such conditions include:

  • Bone spurs
  • Pinched nerves
  • Sciatica
  • Spinal arthritis
  • Spinal and foraminal stenosis
  • Herniated discs

If you haven't been diagnosed already, your doctor may perform a variety of diagnostic tests, including MRI and selective injection of anesthesia. Once a diagnosis is made, non-surgical treatments will usually be attempted. Depending on the condition, this may include medication, steroid injection, physical therapy, exercise, or chiropractry.

Many people find that these conservative treatments are ineffective, and continue to live with back pain. For these people, surgery may be indicated. Fortunately, there has never been a better time to undergo back surgery. Advances in laser surgery have transformed back surgery from the grueling procedure it once was. While traditional, open back surgery is invasive and requires extensive recovery time, laser spine surgery is minimally invasive. For this reason, more and more back pain patients are asking if laser surgery is right for them. And because laser surgery can be used to treat many of the most common back problems, the answer is often a resounding yes.

Only a doctor can tell you if you should undergo laser back surgery, but if the following sounds like you, you may be a good candidate:

  • You have chronic back pain, tingling/numbness in the extremities, or muscle weakness
  • You have been diagnosed with a back condition that can be treated with laser surgery
  • Non-surgical treatment has failed
  • You would like to undergo a short, outpatient procedure under local anesthetic
  • You prefer a shorter recovery time with no large scars
  • You would like the procedure to be done by an experienced surgeon who specializes in using cutting-edge technology to treat back problems

People from all walks of life and at all levels of health can benefit from the procedure. For younger, more active people, laser surgery keeps downtime minimal before returning back to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Those who experience a variety of other health or mobility problems also benefit from minimally invasive surgery, as the body heals more quickly and, due to the lack of a large incision, faces a smaller risk of infection. Many insurance plans cover laser spine surgery.

Some people with back pain should not undergo laser back surgery. While only a doctor can rule out the option for you, laser back surgery is usually not performed to treat acute back pain, or to treat more rare and serious conditions. It should also not be used until after more conservative treatments have been tried. On the other hand, if your physician has told you that you do not qualify for open back surgery, you may still qualify for laser back surgery.

If you'd like to find out if laser back surgery is right for you, please call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at 347-380-9138.  


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