MIS for Degenerative Disc Surgery in Plano TX
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Degenerative disc surgery in Plano TX, such as minimally invasive discectomy, becomes necessary when conservative treatments fail to provide relief. Degenerative disc disease is a spinal condition characterized by weakened or broken vertebrae in the spinal column. It causes a lot of discomfort and pain.
The patient may experience numbness, tingling, and pain that radiate through the hips down the leg and cause sciatica. Research shows that aging is the most common contributor to this health condition. It occurs when the discs that cushions the vertebrae become worn or damaged.
Causes of Degenerative Disc Disease
Intervertebral discs are also known as spinal discs or fibrocartilage. These discs provide cushioning between the spinal vertebrae. Annulus fibrosus is the outer part of the disc. It is a rigid structure and consists of several layers that overlap one another.
Nucleus pulposus is the soft inner core of the disc. The discs provide padding and cushion the stress when your spine bears weight or moves. These discs also help the spine to bend. As you age, repeated daily stresses on your back and minor injuries damage the spinal discs.
Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease
Research shows that disc degeneration may not lead to any symptoms. However, several studies show that it can cause intense pain and affect the quality of life. The condition occurs with damage to the spinal column, but symptoms worsen with age.
The discomfort or pain ranges from mild to severe, depending on your overall health and wellbeing. The condition can cause osteoarthritis, leading to severe stiffness and pain in the spine.
Common symptoms of degenerative disc disease are weakness and pain in the spine. It can radiate to other areas, such as the buttocks and legs. For example, if the damage is in the lumbar spine, the pain will radiate to the hips and upper legs. You may also experience numbness and tingling in your legs and feet.
Likewise, if the damage is in the cervical spine or neck region, the pain will spread to your shoulders, arms, and hands. Some people may also experience spinal instability, causing muscle spasms in the lower back, causing significant pain. You will feel pain when standing, sitting, lying down, walking, or twisting.
Treatment Options for Degenerative Disc Disease
Common treatment options for this condition include physical therapy, occupational therapy, medications, weight loss, and spinal exercises. An advanced treatment option is degenerative disc surgery in Plano TX, such as minimally invasive discectomy or fusion.
Your doctor may also prescribe steroid injections. The doctor will inject your joints next to the damaged intervertebral discs with steroids. The procedure is done under local anesthesia. These injections can provide effective pain relief.
Another treatment option is facet rhizotomy, which involves a radiofrequency current that suppresses the nerves around the facer joint and prevents pain signals from traveling to the brain. People who respond positively to this treatment have pain relief for 1-2 years.
Some patients take medications, such as NSAIDs and Tylenol. NSAIDs are an excellent treatment option for short-term pain relief. Common NSAIDs are ibuprofen and naproxen that reduce discomfort and relieve pain.
Moreover, some positions, such as kneeling or reclining, can relieve the painful symptoms. Some physical therapists recommend a brace or corset to patients with degenerative disc disease to support the spine.
Degenerative Disc Surgery in Plano TX
Although conservative treatment options are best for patients with degenerative disc disease, if the pain persists for a long time, the health provider may recommend degenerative disc surgery in Plano TX, such as minimally invasive discectomy or fusion.
Minimally invasive spine surgery is an ideal option for those who have previously taken medications, undergone physical therapy, and received injections but had no relief. Unlike open-back surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery is a much better option because it involves a small incision to approach the spine.
Likewise, the tiny incision does not cause blood loss. In fact, it spares the delicate spinal structures in your spine, such as muscles, tissues, ligaments, and nerves. Thus, it reduces the risk of complications, which are usually common with open-back surgery.
Minimally invasive discectomy is a common procedure used to treat degenerative disc disease in the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. It requires our MINT surgeon to make a posterior incision through the spinal muscles to remove the pressure on the nerve.
Here at MINT, our qualified neurosurgeons recommend minimally invasive discectomy when medications and physical therapy fail to relieve back pain. Contact MINT for degenerative disc surgery in Plano TX.