The Newest, Safest Surgery Options For a Herniated Disc

For years, the only surgical treatment for herniated discs was open spine surgery, a very invasive procedure. Though effective, open spine surgery required a long recovery time and came with a considerable amount of risk. Although no surgery is completely without risks, there are a number of newer, safer surgery options now on the market.

Laser Spine Surgery

Laser spine surgery uses a laser probe to dissolve the herniated portion of the disc. During this procedure, the doctor makes a couple of small incisions, the size of a needle, next to the spine. Through one incision, a small camera can be inserted. Through the other incision, the laser probe is inserted, and the camera guides the doctor's actions while he uses the probe to dissolve the herniation.

Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cell therapy is a cutting-edge treatment that uses your body's own stem cells to relieve herniated disc symptoms. Stem cells harvested from the fat or bone marrow have been shown to have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect when injected into a herniated disc. For this reason, many doctors are choosing stem cell therapy as a cutting-edge treatment for herniated discs.

Nerve Stimulation

Pain is perceived by the brain after it travels along nerve pathways in the spine. Nerve stimulation is a way to interrupt the pain pathways that the herniated disc uses. A device is implanted into the spine, and used to provide several hours of electrical stimulation each day. This stimulation essentially interrupts the normal transmission of pain signals to the brain, thus relieving pain.

Only your doctor can determine which treatment is right for your herniated disc. In some cases, it may even be necessary to use older, more invasive treatment options. Non-invasive treatments, minimally invasive surgery, and even open spine surgery have all been used to provide long-lasting pain relief to patients suffering from herniated discs.

The first step to getting treatment is meeting with a doctor you trust about your symptoms and diagnosis. To schedule a consultation with New York's top herniated disc doctor, please contact the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center by clicking below and entering your information.