2. If you're thinking about undergoing laser spine surgery,
you may first want to complete certain tasks before you
consent to any procedure. The first thing to keep in mind
is that surgery to treat back or neck pain resulting from a
degenerative spine condition is almost always a last-
resort treatment option, unless a medical emergency or
dangerous spinal deformity requires immediate surgical
attention. Before you commit to spine surgery, make sure
you attempt conservative (nonsurgical) treatments,
research your potential surgical options, understand the
differences between the two main categories of spine
surgery, and find a surgeon you can trust.
3. Exhaust Nonsurgical Treatments
Before laser spine surgery becomes a topic of conversation, your family doctor or
spine specialist will likely recommend that you first complete a course of conservative
treatments. These therapies are widely regarded throughout the mainstream medical
community as being effective treatments for a variety of symptoms that can arise as a
result of spine conditions. The most common treatments include:
• Physical therapy
• Opioid pain medication
• Heat therapy
• Cold therapy
• Low-impact exercise
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
In some cases, other more targeted treatment methods, such as analgesic pain
patches, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound therapy, and
others, may be employed.
4. Do Your Research
Another important consideration prior to undergoing spine surgery is
to research each of your surgical options. In the past, the only option
available for patients requiring back or neck surgery was highly
invasive open spine surgery. It's possible that an open back or neck
procedure could still be your only surgical option, depending on the
severity of your specific condition, level of health, and other factors,
but you could also be a candidate for
laser spine surgery. There are benefits
associated with a laser spine procedure
that are not associated with open
spine surgery, so doing your research
to understand each type of procedure
is incredibly important.
5. Learn the Basics:
Open Spine vs. Laser Spine Surgery
Both types of spine surgery actually have the same goal: to decompress the spinal
cord or nerve roots, with the aim of reducing the pain, numbness, weakness, and
tingling in your back, neck and/or extremities that arises from neural compression.
Some surgeries may also be used to treat arthritic spinal joints by deadening the nerve
endings within the joints, thereby ending chronic neck or back pain. However, open
spine surgery takes a different approach than laser spine surgery. An open spine
surgery is highly invasive, requiring large incisions in the back or neck, dissection of
soft tissues, and the removal of a large portion of spinal anatomy. As a result, spinal
fusion is often required to permanently fuse two adjacent vertebrae together in an
effort to improve spinal stability. Recovering from open spine surgery can be quite
lengthy and difficult, due in large part to the large incisions and implantation of
hardware.
An endoscopic laser spine procedure, on the other hand, is a minimally invasive
procedure, requiring only a small incision in the neck or back and as little disruption as
possible to bone and soft tissues. Additionally, these procedures are performed on an
outpatient basis, which means no hospitalization is necessary.
6. Find a Surgeon You
Feel Comfortable With
If a doctor has determined that you are a candidate for laser spine surgery
and you've done the research regarding the surgical options available to
you, it's time to select a surgeon whom you trust to perform your
procedure. There are some laser spine surgeons that are more
experienced and more qualified than others, so don't be afraid to ask
several surgeons specific questions about how many laser spine
procedures they have performed, where they attended medical school,
where they completed a residency program, and whether they are board
certified. Additionally, talk to friends or family members who've had spine
surgery to gauge their experiences with particular surgeons, and read
testimonials and reviews online. Deciding to undergo any surgical
procedure shouldn't be taken lightly, so do your part to learn as much as
you can about your chosen procedure and surgeon before you sign a
consent form.
