For a very long time, spine surgeons used conventional tools and invasive open surgeries to treat spine conditions like spinal tumors, disc herniation, spine fractures, and deformities. Although open spine surgeries were somewhat successful in managing pain and other severe symptoms associated with spine-related conditions, they are slow, invasive, and risky. Additionally, these treatments were not suitable for all patients with spine conditions.
The advancement of technology has brought tremendous changes in the medical field, necessitating spine surgeons to change their approach for safer and more effective procedures. Minimally invasive spine surgery seeks to address some of the problems experienced with open spine surgeries, including excessive bleeding, pain, and treatment duration. If you seek treatment for a spine condition in Mississippi, we can assist you in understanding all there is to know about MISS at LAMIS. Our spine surgeons are also well-trained and experienced in performing safe and effective minimally invasive surgeries to relieve pain.
What Minimally Invasive Surgery Is All About
A spine condition causes you much pain and sometimes affects your mobility. When you are in so much pain, you cannot work effectively or do the things you enjoy, like spending time with your loved ones. Some spine conditions are also life-changing as they entirely inhibit you from performing everyday tasks like walking, dressing, and sometimes feeding yourself. This necessitates the need for a full-time caregiver. However, you can treat most spine conditions through surgery. Medical doctors start with other treatments like medication, rest, and physical therapy before recommending surgery.
Unfortunately, not everyone with a spine condition is suitable for surgery. Spine surgeries are usually risky because they occur close to the body’s most sensitive organ. A slight mistake when undergoing spine surgery can result in paralysis or death. That is why doctors only recommend surgery after all other treatments have failed.
Still, many people prefer to manage spine conditions with pain medication and other home remedies instead of undergoing surgery. This is because open spine surgery is risky and does not guarantee complete healing. Open surgery involves opening up the back to assess and treat the problematic area of your spine. It causes excessive bleeding, is painful, and could cause complications. It also takes a long time to heal after an open surgery, which leaves you with severe scars on your back.
These are some of the issues doctors are attempting to rectify with Mississippi minimally invasive spine surgery. Instead of an open spine surgery, your doctor can recommend MISS to treat the problems causing your spine condition, and then you will not experience pain and other disabling symptoms. It is an excellent alternative and a less-risky treatment, even for people who are not suitable for open spine surgery.
MISS entails accessing the problematic site on your back through a mall incision. Once the surgeon makes the incision, they can insert a camera to view the cause of your symptoms and tools and equipment to treat the problem. The minor incision does not cause excessive bleeding. It also minimizes damage to your internal organs and does not take long to heal. This makes MISS less risky and more preferred by modern spine surgeons. Additionally, you are only left with a small scar that could disappear after some time.
The Benefits
MISS has several benefits to consider before agreeing to the treatment. Your spine surgery will explain these benefits and help you make decisions. The most common of these benefits include the following:
It is a Safe Procedure
MISS is safer than open spine surgery. This is because it does not result in excessive bleeding and does not expose your back’s internal structures, which exposes them to external infection-causing elements. Remember that when you undergo an open surgery, the surgeon cuts open the treatment site to assess and treat the problem. Your back remains intact during MISS, reducing your chances of suffering a complication after treatment. Thus, if you are unsure about spine surgery because you are afraid for your safety, your doctor can recommend MISS.
Treatment Is Fast
If your greatest worry when undergoing surgery is the time you will be in the operating room, MISS will be right for you. Since the surgeon does not need to cut your back open and sew it back in position after treatment, you will be out of the operating room in minutes. Even though the length of your treatment mainly depends on the underlying problem, you will not be in surgery for hours, like you would be if undergoing open spine surgery.
Healing is Fast
The healing period is another cause for concern for people whose doctors recommend spine surgery. No one wants to remain bedridden for weeks or months as they recover from a treatment procedure. Sadly, this is usually the case after some open surgeries. However, it should not be your worry if you choose minimally invasive surgery. Since the treatment process only involves a small cut to the back, it does not take long for that incision to heal. Additionally, treatment does not affect the internal organs and tissues, which could prolong the healing process.
It Leaves You With Minimal Scars
An open surgery leaves massive scarring at the treatment site. This is usually a problem for many people who opt to undergo plastic surgery to look and feel better. Fortunately, the minor incision made during Mississippi minimally invasive spine surgery leaves only a small scar that can heal over time. Thus, you will not worry much about how your back looks after healing. You will not even need additional treatment to improve your look and self-confidence.
There is Minimal Pain During and After Treatment
Pain is the main reason many people decline surgical treatment. The thought of being in pain during and after treatment will cause a person to consider alternative therapies, even when they are less effective. But this is a less painful surgical procedure. If your back condition has caused you a lot of pain, it could be time to alleviate that pain with Mississippi minimally invasive spine surgery.
You will not experience pain or discomfort when the surgeon makes a small cut on the back because you will be under minimal anesthesia. The minor incision will not hurt much even after the anesthesia wears off. Since the incision heals quickly, you can resume normal activities within a few days. Additionally, you will not be overly dependent on pain medication.
It Does Not Require Hospitalization
Typically, you require hospitalization when undergoing surgery. You will need to be in the hospital some days before the operation and a few more days after treatment. Doctors discharge patients only when they are sure that it is safe to do so. This is unnecessary after MISS. A minimally invasive operation does not require you to be in the hospital for days before and after the procedure. In some cases, surgeons perform these procedures in outpatient settings, which do not require hospitalization. You can go home once the procedure is done and the anesthesia has worn out.
Are There Risks With Mississippi Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
All treatments involve some form of risk. This does not mean that they are ineffective. Some people react to some medications and not others. Other people experience severe side effects from relatively safe treatments. Even though it is presumed to be the safest surgical procedure for spine conditions, MISS could have some risks you should be aware of. You must talk to your doctor immediately after you experience some adverse side effects after undergoing treatment. Some of the issues you could experience with minimally invasive surgery include the following:
- An allergic reaction to anesthesia, especially for patients allergic to anesthesia. (MISS requires minimal anesthesia, which may not trigger a severe allergic reaction.)
- Leaking spinal fluid could cause severe complications
- Bladder or bowel problems
- Unexpected blood loss during and after the operation
- An infection on the treatment site
- Fluid accumulation in vital organs, like the lungs, could cause pneumonia
- Vein thrombosis from blood clots in your legs, primarily if you rest more after the operation
- Back pain, especially if the operation was not successful
- An incomplete operation, which could necessitate an open surgery to treat the underlying problem
Your doctor will discuss these risk factors before the operation to aid your decision-making. They will also advise you to seek immediate treatment if you experience pain, discomfort, or any other symptoms after the treatment.
Note: There is usually no guarantee that treatment will yield the expected results. If MISS does not resolve the spine problem causing back pain, your doctor will recommend a more effective treatment.
Reasons You Could Need Mississippi Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Spine surgeons recommend MISS for particular spine conditions. However, they must first determine your suitability for spine surgery. Recall that not all people with spine conditions can undergo surgery. If your risks of complications are more significant than the benefits, your doctor will recommend an alternative treatment. They must review your treatment history and the nature of your spine condition to make this recommendation. If you are a suitable candidate for MISS, your spine surgeon will recommend it if you have one of the following conditions:
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
This condition occurs when the canal on your lower back narrows. Your back has various kinds of nerves running through spinal canals. When the canal narrows or constricts, it creates pressure on the nerves and spine, causing pain and difficulty walking. People with this condition tend to walk while leaning forward to relieve the tension in the affected area. The pressure could also cause your legs to numb or cause bladder issues. This problem can occur if you have osteoarthritis, spinal tumors, or a backbone disorder. Treatment for stenosis focuses on correcting the problem causing the narrowing of spinal canals to relieve pressure and pain.
Herniated Disc
Discs are rubbery cushions that lie between your vertebrae. They usually have a soft nucleus at the center and a stronger, rubbery cover (the annulus). A torn annulus can cause the nucleus to push through it, resulting in a herniated disc. This condition can affect any spine section, mainly in your lumbar area. A herniated disc causes several symptoms, like pain and weakness in the legs and arms. You could also experience tingling or radiating numbness in your limbs. Treatment for a herniated disc involves fixing the toen annulus to keep the nucleus in its rightful position.
A Spine Infection
Your doctor can also recommend Mississippi minimally invasive spine surgery if your spine is infected. An infection could occur due to an internal bacteria or after surgery. Your spin condition could be due to an epidural abscess, discitis (infection of a vertebral disc), or vertebral osteomyelitis (an infection in the vertebral bone). Your risk of spine infection is usually high if you are obese, have diabetes, HIV, cancer, or consume a poor diet. An infection will cause you to experience severe pain, reduced appetite, weight loss, fever, and chills. Through MISS, your surgeon can access and treat the infected area.
A Spine Tumor
You could benefit from Mississippi minimally invasive spine surgery if abnormal tissue grows in your back. A tumor is considered a spine tumor if it grows in or around your spinal cord. When a tumor develops, it applies pressure on the spine, causing you severe back pain and discomfort. Spine tumors can also cause a loss of muscle function. Bladder issues, loss of feeling in your arms and legs, and muscle weakness. Through MISS, your doctor can locate and remove the tumor, relieving all the associated symptoms in your spine and body.
Find an Effective Spine Treatment Service Near Me
Spine conditions cause pain and discomfort and can affect your ability to perform everyday activities like walking and dressing. You need immediate treatment once you experience pain in your back to treat the condition causing your pain before it escalates. Doctors have all kinds of treatments for spine conditions, including medication. Your condition can also improve with rest, or physical therapy. If it does not, you could require surgery.
At LAMIS, we recommend minimally invasive spine surgery for spine conditions that do not improve after rest, physical therapy, and medication. It is an excellent alternative to open spine surgery as it is safe and takes a short time to recover. Call us at 310-734-6088 for more information about MISS if you need spine treatment in Mississippi.
