What Do Spine Surgeons Do in Plano TX?
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Before deciding to search for a Spine Surgeon in Plano TX, you would like to know what he does and how he does it. In this post, you will learn the essential surgical services offered by spine surgeons.
Mainly, spine surgeons perform different spine procedures to solve back pain problems.
Is a spine surgeon the same as a neurosurgeon? What is a neurosurgeon? A spine surgeon is a doctor who works on the spine, the column of bones that connects your head to your torso and supports your spinal cord, and he can be referred to as a neurosurgeon.
The spine surgeon primarily operates on the back and neck and may work with other specialists such as neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons. They specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of spine conditions. Their job is to diagnose and treat disorders of the spinal column, which is the bone column that protects the spinal cord. They determine whether or not someone has a spine injury and, if so, what the severity of the problem is.
The spine specialists then create a plan for treatment which may include medication, surgery, physical therapy, or a combination of these therapies. Surgery is mostly the last option if the rest of the interventions do not solve the back pain problem. Conditions such as a herniated disk or degenerative disc disease can cause severe pain and only be treated through surgery.
Types of Spine Surgeries
The type of spine surgery applicable in a patient’s case is based on back pain. The following are the main types of spine surgeries:
- Spinal fusion: The vertebrae in the back are fused with a bone graft, a metal plate, or other materials. The purpose is to correct chronic back pain due to degenerated disc.
- Laminectomy: This is the most common spine surgical procedure. It involves removing a layer of the back of the spine and loosening the muscles to alleviate pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
- Discectomy: It’s a surgical procedure used in treating back pain due to herniated disc. During the procedure, the surgeon removes the herniated disc to relieve the pain.
- Spinal decompression. Narrowing of the vertebra is a common cause of back pain due to compression of the nerves by the impingement of the spinal disc. A decompression surgical procedure is necessary to relieve the pressure on the nerves.
If you have back pain and need medical advice on whether you need spine surgery, then you should search for a qualified back pain doctor Plano TX. The doctor will recommend to you the suitable type of surgery. Also, the doctor will inform you about the surgical risks and benefits of each option.
Minimally Invasive Surgery in Treating Back Pain Problems
The minimally invasive surgery(MIS) is one of the best surgical procedures on the spine, and a specialized Spine surgeon in Plano TX will likely recommend it to his patients. Notably, the surgery procedure, like all other forms of surgery, has some level of risks, and you need to identify a reputable and well-equipped hospital to minimize those risks.
Usually, the surgical procedure can be used for various types of spine surgeries. How the Minimally Invasive Surgery will be done depends on the nature of the back problem and the type of spine surgery.
But, mainly procedure entails the use of a small incision to access the spine. After making the small incision, the surgeon uses a tube-shaped device to create a shaft to the spine area. The tool safely pushes the tissues around the ailing area aside.
Notably, having minimally invasive spine surgery has so many benefits over traditional surgical procedures.
The procedure can be performed as an outpatient surgery where you can go home on the same day you are operated on. Notably, the surgery causes minimum trauma to the body; the patient experiences less pain and a shorter recovery time.
Therefore, the MIS procedure is suitable for patients who want to heal fast and experience minimum interference to their daily schedule.
Conclusion
If you have been experiencing persistent back pain and other medical interventions have not solved the problem, you may need spine surgery.
Notably, not all back problems can be solved with spine surgery. Some of the back pain problems that can be solved through spine surgery include spinal instability, fractured vertebrae, spinal deformation, herniated disc, among others.
To ensure that undergoing a surgical procedure will solve your back pain problem, you need a specialized Spine surgeon in Plano TX to assess your situation and advise you.