Spinal stenosis encompasses a number of spinal conditions, and is one of the most common causes of chronic back pain. Most cases of spinal stenosis can be managed without resorting to surgery, which is good news for patients. However, some stubborn cases of spinal stenosis do require surgical intervention. Minimally invasive treatments like laser spine surgery are making surgical treatment less intensive and dangerous than it was in the past.
About Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis refers to a narrowing of the spinal canal, which is the canal where the spinal cord lies. This can happen after damage to the vertebrae, damage to the discs, or a growth in the spinal canal. Examples include herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, and bone spurs.
Spinal stenosis can occur anywhere in the spine - the neck (cervical spine), upper back (thoracic spine), or lower back (lumbar spine). In general, conditions that occur higher up on the spine have a greater chance of being serious. Symptoms of spinal stenosis include back pain, limb pain, muscle weakness, and numbness or tingling in the limbs.
About Laser Spine Surgery
Laser spine surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that can be used to treat conditions such as herniated discs. During this surgery, one or two small incisions are made along the spine. Through these incisions, a camera and a laser probe are inserted. The affected tissue is treated using a laser rather than tools such as a scalpel. This procedure is preferable because it requires no hospital stay, uses only small incisions, and can be performed without placing the patient under general anesthesia.
Is it Effective?
The majority of patients who decide to undergo laser spine surgery NYC find that their symptoms are permanently relieved. Often, the relief of symptoms starts even as the procedure is being performed. At the same time, no procedure has a 100% guarantee of success; a small minority of patients don't experience relief, and others go on to experience another instance of spinal stenosis later on. However, patients who get recommended surgery have a much better chance at recovery than those who do not.
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