Research indicates that just about everyone will experience lower back pain or sciatica at one time or another. Many cases of back pain can be managed conservatively with anti-inflammatory medicines, physical therapy, or other non-invasive treatments.
If conservative treatments fail to give you adequate relief of your symptoms, your doctor may recommend you speak with a neurosurgeon about surgical options for your pain.
There are many different types of surgical techniques to help people with lower back pain. Some techniques carry more risk and require a lengthy hospital stay. Newer, more innovative techniques may reduce some these risks and the length of time to recovery.
Many New Jersey residents are seeking out minimally invasive alternatives to conventional lumbar spine surgeries. When searching for a neurosurgeon and spine surgery facility in Bergen County, NJ, you owe it to yourself to get the facts about minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery.
What is minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery?
Minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery is a new, innovative surgical approach for people with lower back pain or sciatica. It involves using small incisions to gain access to your spine.
Specialized instruments are then used to visualize your spinal bones, discs and nerves and to decompress your spinal nerves. This decompression helps to relieve pain and improve the way you move.
Benefits of minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery include:
- Decreased pain
- Sparing of your lumbar muscles
- Decreased blood loss
- Decreased risk of infection
- Rapid return to previous activity
When compared to the standard open approach, minimally invasive lumbar surgery achieves the same result–decompressed spinal nerves with improved mobility. The minimally invasive approach is simply less painful and less risky.
Patients with certain conditions of the lumbar spine are typically candidates for minimally invasive lumbar surgery. These conditions may include:
- Herniated or bulging disc
- Degenerative disc disease
- Lumbar facet joint arthritis
- Spondylolysis
- Spondylolisthesis
In general, if you are an active person with a recent onset of back pain or sciatica, you may benefit from minimally invasive spine surgery to help you move better and feel better.
How to get the best results from minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery
Although many people can have minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery, there are a few things you can do to ensure that your procedure has the best possible outcome. These may include:
- Doing your homework. Before choosing a neurosurgeon to perform your surgery, find out which one is the best for you. Ask your doctor for a referral or speak with friends and family members about their surgical experience. From those conversations, you can find the best surgeon for you (and which surgeons to avoid).
- Meeting with different doctors. Your friends may have some good advice about which surgeon to choose, but the best way to find the best doctor for your minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery is to meet with a few different doctors. Be sure to ask a lot of questions and voice your concerns about spine surgery. The right doctor for you should treat you with respect and professionalism, and he or she should take the time to answer all of your questions.
- Finding out about the hospital or surgical spine center. The facility where your procedure takes place is an important component of your minimally invasive spine surgery. The right hospital or surgical center should be equipped with modern equipment and be staffed with professional and respectful nurses and technicians. Of course, you will want to find a New Jersey spinal surgical center or hospital that is close to you to make travel easier.
- Learning about minimally invasive lumbar spinal surgery. By understanding the innovative techniques and specialized training that goes into minimally invasive spine surgery, you can have an understanding of what to expect from your surgery. And understanding your surgery means that you can go into the procedure with confidence that your recovery will be without incident.
Most importantly, to have a successful minimally invasive spine surgery, you need to prepare your body. Those people who have the most successful spinal surgery share common traits. These may include:
- Non-smokers
- People who exercise and lead an active lifestyle
- People who rely minimally on opiate medication or who have been using opiods for a short period of time
The best way to get the optimal results from your minimally invasive spine surgery is to be prepared. Find the best neurosurgeon who practices in a top-rated facility and make sure you lead an active lifestyle prior to the surgery.
Consider only top neurosurgeons for minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery
Lumbar spine surgery is no laughing matter, and you need to take serious consideration into finding the best neurosurgeon for you. Your doctor should spend time with you and make you feel as if you are working in a therapeutic alliance to ensure the best possible outcome from your surgery.
Working with a surgeon who merely knows you as a back pain patient is not enough. The right doctor for you should understand how your back pain or sciatica affects your daily life. He or she should outline the surgical procedure and explain the risks and benefits associated with it. When preparing for your surgery, you should feel confident in your choice of neurosurgeon.
Dealing with back pain can be a difficult task, and finding the right spine surgeon to treat your back pain is of paramount importance when facing spine surgery. Working with a top-rated surgeon who performs minimally invasive spine surgery in NJ can make your recovery a stress-free experience.
By understanding minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery and by finding the best doctor for your condition, you can be sure to quickly and safely get back to your normal active lifestyle.
