Herniated Disc Surgery Options

When all conservative treatments have failed and you are considering herniated disc surgery, there's much to think about. Which surgeon to go to, the recovery and rehabilitation process, and the impact on family and friends are all things to consider, not to even mention the financial implications. It behooves you to do some home research about surgery as a treatment option and find out as much as you can. Then, visit your doctor and explain to him or her that your symptoms have not subsided with nonsurgical treatments, and you would like to know if surgery is a viable option for you.

Consulting Doctors and Medical Professionals

When herniated disc surgery becomes a serious treatment option for you to consider, it is increasingly important to receive multiple opinions from doctors and other medical professionals. Personal bias can come into play when asking about the possibility of surgery. Some medical professionals advocate it, and others believe it to not be of much help. To eliminate this bias, you can try to receive multiple medical opinions and weigh the pros and cons. Once you’ve gathered all the facts from sources you trust, you’ll be ready to come to a decision of your own.

Open Spine Surgery vs. Endoscopic Procedures

Another thing to consider when surgery is on your mind is the type of surgery you wish to pursue. Open spine herniated disc surgery calls upon the use of a large incision, general anesthesia, removal of large amounts of bone and other tissue, an overnight hospital stay, and a lengthy and difficult rehabilitative process. An endoscopic procedure, on the other hand, takes a much different approach. These minimally invasive outpatient procedures have become a highly popular alternative to open spine surgery. This is largely due to the fact that endoscopic procedures call for an incision no larger than one inch in length, use local anesthesia and deep IV sedation, are generally less risky, and have a much shorter recovery period than that of open spine surgery. Your doctors can tell you more about both open surgeries and endoscopic surgeries, but again, keep in mind that each physician has his or her own bias regarding which surgical approach is best.