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EDISCSCULPTEligible Conditions
Common symptoms of spine conditions include pain in the back, pain in the limbs, numbness or tingling in the extremities, and muscle weakness. These symptoms all have a detrimental effect on quality of life and even livelihood, which is why effective treatment is so crucial. While people find that their symptoms can be eliminated using treatments such as physical therapy, chiropractry, and weight loss, others do not respond to conservative treatments and need surgery.
Laser procedures can be used to access and remove tissue that is pressing on the spinal cord. While some rare and serious conditions can only be treated using open back surgery, many common back conditions can be treated with laser back surgery, including:
- Bone spurs
- Herniated disc
- Stenosis
- Spinal arthritis
- Pinched nerves
These conditions can arise for a variety of reasons. Causes include aging, injury from improper lifting, accidents, and obesity. Regardless of how they arise, back pain and associated conditions can have a debilitating effect on both work and personal life.
Traditional back surgery treats these conditions by creating a large, open wound to access the spine. In addition, it is often necessary to remove a part of vertebral bone in order to access the affected area. These factors make recovery much longer and more painful. The risk of infection at the surgical site is also much higher. Laser back surgery, in contrast, uses incisions about the size of a small needle. The necessary tools and cameras can be inserted this way. Since wound care and pain management are so much less intensive, no hospital stay is required.
If you have symptoms of a spinal condition, the first step to treatment is getting a diagnosis. This may involve an MRI or selective injection of anesthetic. After you are diagnosed, you will probably be prescribed conservative treatments. If these do not work, it is time to consider surgery as an option.
If your doctor recommends surgery, the surgery and recovery will progress approximately as follows:
- You will have a pre-operative appointment where you discuss the treatment and recovery plan
- Just before your surgery, you will have a check-up to make sure everything is in order
- The procedure itself will take about an hour; symptoms are usually relieved as the procedure takes place
- You can return home the same day, with no hospital stay
- You may be able to start physical therapy the day after surgery
- About a week later, most people are able to return to work
- Within 4-6 weeks, full recovery is achieved and patients can resume physically strenuous activities
The recovery period is a good time to get into habits that will help prevent future back problems. This includes losing weight if you are obese, quitting smoking, and maintaining good posture. Physical therapy can be an impetus for both regular exercise and good posture, so be sure to take advantage of the resources you have after surgery!
While there is still some recovery time after laser back surgery, it is much shorter and less intensive than after traditional surgery. Patients can return home the day of surgery, and do not need to stay in the hospital. This makes laser surgery a strong alternative to traditional surgery for people with very busy lifestyles, as well as for people with health issues that make traditional surgery risky.
Only a physician can tell you whether laser back surgery is the right choice for you. To schedule a consultation with a leading surgeon, please call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at 212-420-0312.
info@dattaendoscopic.com