Find Safe Surgery Options For My Sciatica

If you suffer from sciatica, chances are that getting relief is at the top of your agenda. Many cases of sciatica can be managed without surgery, but sometimes surgery is necessary. The good news is that there are more options than ever, and the modern options tend to be safer and less invasive than ever before.

When is Surgery Needed? 

Surgery is almost never the first course of treatment with sciatica. Instead, your doctor will recommend non-invasive treatments like medication and lifestyle changes. Because sciatica is highly connected to inflammation, muscle tightness, and posture, this often relieves symptoms, though it can't treat the underlying cause. Surgery is reserved for cases that are severe, getting progressively worse, or not responding to treatment. 

"Safe" Surgery? 

There is really no such thing as "safe" surgery in the sense of a surgery with absolutely no risk of side effects. However, there is a such thing as safer surgery. Surgery is safest when the procedure minimizes the amount of trauma to the tissue, minimizes the amount of time spent in the hospital, and minimizes the recovery period. 

Options

There are a number of safer surgery options for sciatica, although traditional open spine surgery is still the best course of treatment in certain situations. One of the best and most broadly used options is laser spine surgery, a procedure in which a laser is used to dissolve a disc herniation or other displaced tissue. This procedure requires just a few small incisions on the spine, and the results are often immediate.

Another option is stem cell therapy, which involves injecting your own stem cells, harvested from fat or marrow, into a disc with degeneration. This produces a powerful, often permanent reduction in inflammation. Stem cell therapy is a particularly strong option for people who have had open spine surgery in the past with no success.

Only your doctor can determine which treatment option is right for you, based on your current symptoms and your treatment history. To schedule a consultation about your sciatica, please contact the Skin Deep Medical Spa by clicking below and entering your information.