Back pain, sciatica or a pinched nerve in your neck may cause you to feel helpless. You may have tried a number of conservative treatments like physical therapy, chiropractic care or injections, and the pain may continue to keep you from enjoying your normal work and recreational activities. Your doctor may recommend that you consider spine surgery to correct your problem.
Back pain and sciatica may be caused by many different pathologies. These may include:
- Spinal arthritis
- Herniated or bulging spinal discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Facet joint degeneration
- Spondylolysis
- Spondylolisthesis
Any of these problems may cause your spinal nerves to become pinched, sending pain or numbness and tingling down your leg or arm. You may even be experiencing weakness in your extremities due to your pinched nerves.
The goal of spine surgery is to decompress your spinal nerves. This can help relieve your pain and improve your ability to move around.
One of the newer types of spine surgery offered by New Jersey spine doctors is called minimally invasive spine surgery. This innovative surgery is chosen by many New Jersey residents who are seeking alternatives to the standard and risky open spine surgical procedures.
Learning about minimally invasive spine surgery and what makes it a wise choice for people with back or neck pain is an important step to take when considering spine surgery. The more you know about your surgery, the better prepared you will be for your course of care and recovery.
What is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
Minimally invasive spine surgery is an innovative new addition to spine care. It involves your surgeon making a tiny incision in your back and introducing specialized instruments into your spine to perform your surgery. The tools are used to decompress your spinal nerves to alleviate your pain and improve your overall mobility.
The benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery in NJ include:
- Small incision
- Less pain
- No need to retract your back muscles away from your spinal bones
- Faster recovery
- Less blood loss
- Less risk of infection
When compared to open spine surgery, patients typically enjoy a speedier recovery. This means that you may be able to get back to your work and recreational or athletic activities faster with less pain.
There are some risks to minimally invasive spine surgery. These may include:
- Failure to adequately relieve your symptoms
- Spinal fluid leak
The risks associated with minimally invasive spine surgery are no different than those associated with the standard open spine procedures. The benefits of the minimally invasive approach make the choice between that and the open approach an easy one to make for many routine procedures.
Am I Good Candidate for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
Not every patient with a spine problem is a good candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery. Some patients have chronic conditions with many complicating factors that may make minimally invasive surgery less than appropriate.
Typically, good candidates for minimally invasive spine surgery include:
- Non-smokers
- People with single level disc disease or disc herniations
- People with acute or sub-acute conditions
- People who can manage their pain without opioid medication
- Active people who exercise regularly
If you are an active person who has noticed a recent decrease in your ability to perform your normal work or recreational activities due to back or neck pain, you may be a good candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery in NJ.
A visit with your doctor or a New Jersey spine surgeon who performs minimally invasive procedures can help you determine if you are likely to enjoy a speedy recovery with this type of surgery.
Common Reasons Patients Choose to Have Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery in NJ
When comparing minimally invasive spine surgery to open spine surgery, there are a few reasons why New Jersey residents suffering from spinal problems choose minimally invasive spine surgery. These may include:
- Desire to return to work quickly
- A need to get back to caring for family members and their household
- A rapid return to athletics or recreational sports
When considering where to have spine surgery in the Tri-state area, many people feel that traveling into New York City is the best choice. But not every doctor in the city performs minimally invasive procedures. In fact, considering northern New Jersey for your minimally invasive spine surgery is a good choice.
Traveling to and from a local surgery center or hospital is easier than traveling in and out of Manhattan. Hospitals and surgical centers are less crowded in New Jersey, offering you more personalized and one-on-one care.
Most importantly, the doctor who performs your minimally invasive spine surgery in NJ should treat you with professionalism and respect.
He or she should offer you different options for surgery, explaining the risks and benefits associated with each one. You and your doctor should be engaged in a therapeutic alliance when treating your back or neck pain.
Minimally invasive spine surgery in New Jersey is a relatively new offering for patients with sciatica or back and neck pain. Finding the right doctor who performs the procedure may be the key to helping you quickly and safely return to your previous active lifestyle.
