Do You Need Bulging Disc Surgery?

Bulging disc surgery is almost always a procedure that is elected by the patient, and only a small percentage of bulging disc patients are candidates for surgical treatment. Surgery should only be considered when conservative, nonsurgical treatment methods have been tried for several weeks or months, but debilitating symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, or discomfort from a bulging disc remain. There is a variety of surgeries that can be performed, and by doing some research and receiving multiple medical opinions, you can decide which procedure is right for you.

Open Back Surgeries

Open back surgeries are the older, more traditional types of back surgery. These procedures can involve anything from removing a small piece of a bulging or herniated disc to removing an entire disc and vertebral body. These types of surgeries require full anesthesia and a large incision into the back. The large incision opens the back up so doctors can see the spine. With the spine exposed, surgeons then perform whatever surgical procedure the condition requires, such as removing parts of a bulging or herniated intervertebral disc, removing entire vertebral bodies, or fusing vertebrae together. Fusions are long and difficult surgeries in which two or more vertebrae are essentially fastened together, leaving them permanently immobilized. Also, fusions, as well as many other forms of open back bulging disc surgery, have a very long recovery process.

Endoscopic Surgeries

Endoscopic surgeries are newer than open back surgeries, but the truth is that endoscopic surgeries have actually been performed for decades now. These surgeries can accomplish most of what open back surgeries can, but endoscopic surgeries do not incorporate large incisions, vertebral fusion, or the removal of significant parts of the anatomy. These minimally invasive surgeries require only IV sedation and local anesthesia, and they use a small incision that allows a narrow scope to enter the body. The scope is able to maneuver around near the spinal column to provide a clear picture for surgeons on a TV monitor in the operating room. With the help of the scope, a surgical laser and other medical instruments are used to complete the surgery.