End Back Pain with a Cervical Laminoforaminotomy McKinney TX Specialist
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If you are suffering from cervical spine disease, our cervical laminoforaminotomy McKinney TX clinic can help.
Cervical Foraminotomy and How It Relieves Back Pain
Cervical foraminotomy is a type of minimally invasive spinal surgery that is designed to relieve the pain caused by nerve root compression. The operation is done from behind the neck and relieves pressure on affected spinal nerves in the neck.
The posterior cervical foraminotomy technique involves removing a small slice of joint and bone that cover the spinal nerve. If necessary, soft tissue that may also be causing pressure may also be removed.
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia while the patient is lying on the operating table face down. The surgeon will make a small incision in the skin of around one to two inches. He will then remove soft tissue and bone as needed to relieve the pressure.
The procedure is usually chosen when the primary symptom the patient suffers is arm pain, with little or no neck pain. However, surgery is only recommended as a last option when reasonable non-surgical treatments have been proven ineffective. But if the patient has significant neurological problems or suffers from instability, a cervical foraminotomy may be the appropriate initial option.
Causes of Cervical Spine Disease
Your spinal nerves and spinal cord run through the intervertebral foramina and spinal canal. When these bony tunnels shrink in size, there may be pressure on the spinal nerves and cord.
The symptoms of nerve compression are usually felt in the hands and arms, and include:
- Weakness
- Pain
- Tingling
- Stiffness or aching
Cervical foraminotomy is intended to relieve these symptoms as well as prevent further deterioration in the condition. Relief is seen in as much as 90% of cases.
Anterior cervical foraminotomy recovery times vary from patient to patient, but the average is around two weeks to a month. After the procedure, the patient stays in the hospital for a few hours for observation, and any pain they experience is treated with medication. As soon as they recover from the anesthesia, they are also encouraged to become physically active.
The patient will continue to experience pain after the procedure, particularly in the area where the incision was made. However, this will gradually decrease as the inflammation around the affected nerve gradually lessens.
Once the patient gets home, they should start walking every day as part of the recovery process. They should also gradually increase the amount of walking they do.
Alternatives to Spinal Surgery
Your spinal surgeon may decide that cervical laminoforaminotomy is not the right option for you. Some of the other treatment options that may be appropriate include:
- Activity modification. In some cases, repetitive neck and arm movements, heavy lifting, and other parts of your daily routine may be the cause of pain. To relieve the symptoms, the patient may be asked to modify their routine to avoid these activities in order to facilitate healing.
- Physical therapies. Your surgeon may recommend therapies such as osteopathy (a hands-on technique that focuses on the muscles, joints, and spine to provide overall health and wellness to the whole body); physiotherapy (which helps manage pain using techniques such as movement and exercise); massage and hydrotherapy (which uses exercises performed in a warm water pool).
- Pain medications. Common medications prescribed include opioid and non-opioid analgesics, anticonvulsants, and membrane-stabilizing agents. In some cases, Ketamine and other special drugs may be used.
- Nerve sheath injections. This technique can result in a significant reduction in pain. However, the relief is only temporary and may last only a few days or weeks.
- Other surgical options. Instead of cervical foraminotomy, your surgeon may recommend procedures such as artificial disk replacement, anterior cervical decompression and fusion, and cervical laminectomy.
If you are suffering from persistent pain in the neck and arms that has lasted for at least two weeks, numbness, tingling or radiating pain, changes in bladder or bowel function, you may be a candidate for surgery. Contact a Frisco minimally invasive specialist to discuss your options for relieving your back pain.
Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas
Dr. Scott Kutz is a neurosurgeon who specializes in treating spinal disorders such as degenerative disk disease, herniated disks, spinal tumors, and spinal stenosis. He focuses on using minimally invasive procedures to ensure that his patients get the best care.
These procedures use smaller incisions so that the patient’s tissues and muscles experience less trauma. This reduces the risk of infection, reduces blood loss during the procedure, lessens pain and shortens recovery time. In fact, these techniques often make it possible to perform spinal surgery on an outpatient basis.
Dr. Kutz uses robotic spine surgery as a tool to make surgical procedures even more precise and less invasive. Spinal surgery is safer for the patient while ensuring that they enjoy the benefits of minimally invasive procedures.
Aside from cervical laminoforaminotomy, Dr, Kutz also performs oblique and lateral lumbar interbody fusion, posterior cervical facet fusion, sacroiliac joint fusion, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, and percutaneous spinal instrumentation.
He and his experienced staff will put your wellbeing first by ensuring that you get personalized care from well-trained professionals.
You no longer need to suffer from back and neck pain. Contact Dr. Kutz’s practice, Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas at (972) 244-3491.
MINT is a Cervical Laminoforaminotomy McKinney TX specialist and you can visit their facility at 5425 West Spring Creek Parkway, Suite 133, Plano.
