If you are dealing with back pain and leg pain, you may benefit from various treatments to help relieve your symptoms and improve your mobility. Your doctor may recommend conservative measures like physical therapy or injections, and surgery may be considered as a definitive treatment for severe cases.
Different problems may cause your back pain or sciatica. These may include:
- Bulging or herniated disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Facet joint arthritis
When any of these conditions are present in your low back, spinal nerves may become pinched, sending pain into your back, buttocks or legs and causing decreased mobility. Surgery for low back pain or sciatica involves decompressing your spinal nerves to help relieve pressure and eliminate your pain.
There are various types of lumbar spinal surgeries that your doctor may consider to treat your low back condition. These may include:
When considering lumbar surgery, you must investigate many different variables to ensure that you know what to expect with your surgery. The type of surgery, minimally invasive or open, may affect your overall healing. Your outcome may also be affected by the expertise of the doctor who performs your surgery or the facility in which you have your surgery
Foraminotomy surgery is a type of surgery that is used to decompress your spinal nerves. Although there are many places to have foraminotomy surgery in Bergen County, NJ, it is in your best interest to find a neurosurgeon and surgery facility that can manage all aspects of your care.
When considering foraminotomy surgery, you must examine the costs–both obvious and hidden–that may affect your surgery. That way, you know exactly what to expect from a financial perspective before going into surgery, and you can concentrate fully on getting back to your normal lifestyle after your surgery.
Foraminotomy Surgery
Foraminotomy surgery is a procedure that is used to take pressure off your spinal nerves. This can be done with a standard open approach, or it may be done with an innovative minimally invasive approach.
During the surgery, an incision is made in your lower back, and specialized instruments are used to visualize your spinal nerves and structures. Your doctor will then carefully remove a part of your spinal bones that may be compressing your nerves.
After the surgery, you will need to spend a bit of time slowly getting back to your normal activities. Most people return to normal activity within a few months. Your post operative course depends on the severity of your symptoms and condition and on how well your surgical procedure went.
Understanding the cost of foraminotomy surgery in Bergen County, NJ is an important step in preparing for your procedure. Some doctor’s offices have specialists who can help you navigate through the financial maze that may accompany your foraminotomy surgery.
Foraminotomy Surgery Cost in Bergen County, NJ
There are many different factors that affect the cost of your foraminotomy surgery in Bergen County, NJ. Some of these variables are easy to understand, and others may be less obvious.
The type of surgical approach
The type of surgery you have may have an effect on your out-of-pocket costs for your foraminotomy surgery. The standard open approach requires that your doctor use a large incision and dissect your low back muscles away from your vertebrae to visualize your lumbar structures. This type of approach may require an extended hospital stay or recovery period.
The minimally invasive approach to a foraminotomy involves a smaller incision with sparing of your lumbar muscles. This means a shorter hospital stay with a faster recovery time.
Insurance coverage that you carry
The type of insurance plan you carry may have an effect on your out-of-pocket costs associated with your foraminotomy surgery. Some insurance plans have a high deductible to meet, and others may simply require that you pay a co-payment for your surgery.
Understanding your insurance coverage before you have surgery can help you plan for the expenditures associated with the procedure. Your doctor’s office may have an insurance specialist to work with who can help you navigate the insurance maze so you can focus on the healing process after your foraminotomy.
Hidden costs
Some costs associated with your foraminotomy surgery in Bergen County, NJ may seem obvious. Other costs are not so apparent, but you should take time to familiarize yourself with some of these costs before your surgery.
Some hidden costs of foraminotomy surgery may include:
- Surgical assistants that may not be a part of your insurance network
- Anesthesiologists and neurophysiologists that help during surgery
- Surgical facility fees
- Medication after your surgery
- Lost time at work
- Cost of ancillary services like physical therapy after your surgery
Before you have your surgery, ask your doctor’s insurance specialist about these costs so you can have a plan in place to manage these financial burdens after your surgery.
Find the Best Doctor for Your Foraminotomy Surgery
One of the most important things you can do when considering foraminotomy surgery in Bergen County, NJ is to find the best neurosurgeon to perform the surgery. Your surgeon should take time to explain the surgery to you and answer any questions or concerns you may have about the surgery.
He or she should offer you alternatives to treatment, and the relationship you have with your surgeon should feel like a therapeutic alliance with both of you working together to manage your back pain.
Finding a top rated doctor may seem like a difficult task. Some places to start your search for a neurosurgeon include:
- Ask your family physician for a referral
- Ask family members and friends about their surgical experiences with specific doctors
- Search the internet for unbiased reviews of New Jersey neurosurgeons
Finding the right doctor who instills in you a sense of trust may make your surgical experience a positive one with the best possible outcome.
When facing lumbar foraminotomy surgery, there are many different variables to consider. Finding the best neurosurgeon for you who works in a top rated surgical facility can have a positive effect.
Understanding the cost of foraminotomy surgery in Bergen County, NJ is another important step when planning your surgery. By knowing what to expect with the cost of your surgical procedure, you can focus on your recovery after the surgery without having to worry about personal finances and out-of-pocket costs.
