When you develop a spine condition, like a herniated disc or decompression, you will likely experience back pain. The pain associated with back conditions starts small and then intensifies as the condition worsens. Many people seek treatment when the pain becomes unbearable. Then, they cannot walk straight, work, or perform essential duties like bathing or dressing. Doctors offer various treatments for back pain associated with spine conditions. They can start you off with over-the-counter painkillers and a recommendation for rest. If that does not work, you could need surgery.
Fortunately, you can undergo minimally invasive spine surgery in Oklahoma today instead of open spine surgery, which is very painful and complicated. At LAMIS, we will help you comprehend this and offer our competent, affordable, and timely services. We also do follow-up checkups after treatment to ensure that your back pain is no longer an issue and that your health is progressing well.
Understanding Minimally Invasive Surgery
Surgical treatment is usually recommended for severe illnesses and conditions that medicine and other home remedies cannot manage. Doctors recommend surgical treatment as the last option after other treatments have failed to manage the problem. This is because surgical treatment, despite having so many benefits, has many disadvantages, including a higher risk of infection. Surgical treatment entails opening your body to see and fix the problem causing your symptoms. It exposes the body’s sensitive tissues to external factors that could result in an infection. It is also painful and could cause severe bleeding. The surgical point also takes a long time to heal.
That is why doctors have developed minimally invasive surgeries to minimize risk factors. Although this option does not entail cutting open the treatment site, it gives you all the benefits of surgical treatment. Doctors can view the treatment site through a small incision, insert treatment tools, and fix the underlying problem. This causes minimal bleeding and leaves you with minimal or zero scars.
Your back is one of the most sensitive parts of your body. It contains crucial structures like the spine, which supports movement and brain activity. Your brain communicates with the body through the spine using nerve impulses, which is how you can feel and perform various bodily activities, like walking and talking. However, your spine is susceptible to numerous injuries, affecting its effectiveness. These injuries also cause excruciating back pain that could make it challenging for you to perform your daily tasks.
While many ways to treat back conditions exist, surgical treatments are usually more common and effective. This is because surgical treatment fixes the underlying problem, dealing with the pain and other symptoms once and for all. Open spine surgery is not an excellent idea, considering the risk factors associated with it. However, you can greatly benefit from Oklahoma minimally invasive spine surgery for any back condition that medication, rest, and physical therapy cannot handle. An experienced doctor can take you through the treatment, so you will no longer worry about your back pain or any other symptoms you have had for a long time.
To do that, your doctor must make a minor cut close to the source of your back pain. That will give them access to the underlying structures and help them determine the anomaly causing the back pain. The doctor will also be able to insert the required tools to fix the anomaly without causing you to bleed or experience so much pain. Since the cut on your back is usually small, you should quickly recover from the surgery and be able to resume your everyday tasks in a few days.
The Right Patient for Oklahoma Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Remember that doctors do not recommend surgery for everyone experiencing back pain or spine conditions. They will start treating you with medication, recommend rest, and try physical therapy before suggesting a more invasive treatment. You can only undergo surgery if other treatments fail to relieve the pain and other symptoms. However, you still must be the right patient for spine surgery for your doctor to perform one. They will examine your body and back to determine the actual cause of your pain. They will also review your treatment history to determine whether surgery is safe.
Additionally, spine surgery can only be used in specific situations. Not all back- or spine-related conditions can be treated by surgery. Here are some of the conditions that surgeons treat with Oklahoma minimally invasive spine surgery:
- Destabilization
- Herniated discs
- Spine infections
- A fracture in the vertebral column
- Spinal stenosis
- Removing a spinal tumor
- A deformity like scoliosis
- Spondylolysis (a spine problem that mainly affects the lower vertebrae)
Your doctor must examine and diagnose you with a spine condition before recommending the most suitable treatment. Remember that, in some cases, your back pain can disappear after a few days of rest. Other times, you can manage the pain with pain medicine. But if these options do not work, it could be time to consider surgery. With Oklahoma minimally invasive spine surgery, you will no longer worry about the pain and complications associated with traditional spine surgery.
If, after diagnosis, the doctor finds you unsuitable for spine surgery, they will recommend an alternative treatment to manage your symptoms. You could be suitable for spine surgery but not for minimally invasive surgery. In that case, your doctor will suggest open spine surgery. For example, if you have a chronic infection, grave epidural scarring, or severe osteoporosis, your doctor can suggest open spine surgery and not minimally invasive surgery. It helps to work closely with an experienced spine surgeon to understand your options and make an informed decision.
The Advantages of Oklahoma Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Minimally invasive surgery is becoming popular every day because of the many benefits it offers to people requiring surgical treatment. Some of the benefits include the following:
It Requires Less Anesthesia
While anesthesia helps surgical patients experience no pain and remain calm through treatment, it could be dangerous for those who are allergic. An allergic reaction to anesthesia can result in complications and prolong your recovery. If you suffer from anesthesia allergy, minimally invasive surgery is right for you. Remember that spine surgeons only require a few minutes to access the treatment site to fix the underlying problem. Thus, they do not need to put you under anesthesia for a long time. This reduces your chances of suffering an allergic reaction.
It Causes Less Bleeding
This is one of the main reasons to choose Oklahoma minimally invasive spine surgery. Bleeding is a concern for most people requiring surgical treatment. In addition to prolonging recovery, excess bleeding can result in additional health issues that could take a toll on your overall well-being. However, you do not bleed much through the minor incision a minimally invasive surgeon makes to treat your spine condition.
Your Risk of infection is Low
An infection after surgery occurs when your sensitive underlying structures are exposed to external elements and germs. This mostly happens during open surgeries, whereby the surgeon cuts open the treatment site to fix the problem causing the pain and other symptoms. Your surgeon does not cut your back open during minimally invasive spine surgery, so your risk of infection is low. It also speeds up your recovery, enabling you to resume your daily tasks sooner rather than later.
It Reduce Your Hospital Stay
How long you stay in the hospital matters when choosing a treatment option. Most people prefer treatments that will allow them to return home soon. Sadly, that is not always the case with invasive treatments like surgery. You can remain in the hospital for days, weeks, or months to fully recover from an operation. However, this is not necessary after minimally invasive spine surgery. Since you can quickly recover from the minor incision the surgeon creates on the back, you could return home a few days or hours after treatment. The actual duration of your hospital stay will depend on your back condition and the kind of treatment you need.
It Results in Minimal Damage to Tissues and Muscles
Minimally invasive treatment also results in less damage to your sensitive inner structures, including muscles and tissues. The surgeon does not interfere much with them since their only access to the treatment site is a small incision on the back. That is why you will likely experience less pain, even after treatment. This also minimizes your risk of complications.
It Results in Minimal Scarring
Surgery always leaves scars on the body as surgeons cut your skin to access the treatment site. An open surgery involves a massive cut that likely results in enormous scarring. However, a minor incision will leave small scars that can disappear with time. You will not have to worry about your self-image. Hence, there is no need to undergo further treatment to deal with the scars.
What Happens During Oklahoma Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
If you require spine surgery to manage your back pain and other symptoms, your doctor will guide you through the options and help you make an informed decision. Remember that minimally invasive surgery has many more benefits than open spine surgery. If you are fit for minimally invasive surgery, the surgeon will prepare you mentally, emotionally, and physically to ensure you remain calm throughout the treatment. You should ask questions and get clarifications to understand what is expected during and after treatment.
The surgeon can prescribe an antibiotic before the procedure to reduce your risk of infection. This depends on your spine condition and the kind of treatment you need. You will require a repeat dose after treatment for the same purpose.
During treatment, the surgeon will start by administering anesthesia. This will numb the treatment point, protecting you from pain and discomfort. Since the treatment is noninvasive, you will remain awake and alert. That is why surgeons administer only a tiny amount of anesthesia. The anesthesia will also relax your muscles, allowing the surgeon to access the treatment site and fix the problem with minimal distractions.
Once the anesthesia kicks in, your doctor will make a minor incision on your back around the treatment site. They will attach a small camera to an external screen to view your underlying structures. The camera will guide the surgeon to the problem causing your back pain. The surgeon will then insert the required tools to fix the problem.
Your doctor will closely monitor your vitals (oxygen levels and blood pressure) throughout the process. Once the treatment is over, the surgeon will stitch close the incision and send you to a recovery ward. They will prescribe pain medication and any other medication you may need after treatment.
Surgeons can perform this treatment in outpatient settings, in which case hospitalization will be unnecessary. You will come to the hospital when your treatment is scheduled. However, you could be required to stay in a hospital bed for a few hours after the treatment.
After treatment, you may experience pain and discomfort, but these should wear away after a few days. If the pain worsens, you should consult your doctor immediately. Make sure you take some time off to rest and heal before resuming your routine. Also, contact your doctor immediately if you experience a problem with the treatment site, like bleeding.
There is no standard recovery time for patients who undergo minimally invasive surgery. The time you take depends on several factors, including age, overall health, and the spine condition you were treated for.
Find a Skilled Spine Surgeon Near Me
If you have a spine condition and are fit for surgery in Oklahoma, you could be scared about the many side effects of open spine surgery. However, our skilled spine surgeons at LAMIS can take you through minimally invasive spine surgery because of its many benefits and fewer complications. We could start by explaining your treatment options and the procedure so you can understand what to expect. We also conduct follow-ups after treatment to ensure you are no longer struggling with back pain. Call us at 310-734-6088 to understand our services and your treatment options better.
