There are numerous alternatives for treating a herniated disc.
Whichever procedure the patient opts for or the doctor suggests, the primary goals are that the patient is given relief and that utmost comfort is established while the medical procedure is being administered.
Thanks to recent medical and technological breakthroughs, a method of laser surgery for herniated discs has been developed.
The medical procedure that has become a standard to treat a herniated disc and other lumbar problems is microsurgical discectomy.
And it is noted that in the last ten to fifteen years, microdiscectomy has been improved and technologically modified to require very minimal and relatively small incisions.
For this reason alone it is beneficial, fewer soft tissues are dissected which translates to lesser patient discomfort during operation as well as post operation which results in a shorter time to recover and heal.
Aside from microdiscectomy, chymopapain injections are another alternative solution to back pain.
This method involves the dissolution of the problematic disc(s).
In the 1990s, the arthroscopic lumbar discectomy was introduced so it's been a solid treatment and surgical choice for years, but like all technologies, advancements have been made and it's now time to take a look at laser disc surgery.
Before we get into the laser surgery for herniated disc, let us first understand the why you would need it.
For most folks, the spine or the inter-vertebral discs are common causes of neck and back pain.
Due to the natural process of aging, your body goes through a great deal of stress and wear and tear, during this process your lumbar discs incur injuries nad like anything that is pushed to the limit, your spine begins to break down..
These factors make the discs susceptible to bulges, cracks or tears.
When this happens the disc bulges or ruptures, and the delicate spinal nerves are pinched or irritated which is your bodies way of telling you something is wrong.
When back pain occurs, your spinal nerves are irritated, pinched or trapped by the adjacent internal disc fluids.
At times, a disc bulges or herniates into the spinal canal and puts pressure on the spinal cord, which just like it sounds is not a good thing.
Unlike other parts of your body, any type of injury to your spine can be felt throughout your body, and can cause permanent damage and possible paralysis.
Laser spine surgery is administered as an outpatient surgical procedure, which simply means, you can be in and out of the hospital the same day.
It also means that the surgery itself has fewer health hazards and risks.
No need to be confined in a hospital and the recovery period is way faster.
Now keep in mind, that many people can have a spinal injury and recover without medical procedures (see below for more information), but with the advent of Laser spine surgery the inherent risks and concerns are minimized and can be looked at as a good alternative for people who are suffering and cannot find a solution to this debilitating condition.
Although traditional microsurgical discectomy has been the solution for quite some time, a new and great alternative is laser spine surgery.
The surgery itself is fairly simple, the surgeon goes in using minimally invasive (read smaller cuts) procedures and removes the portion that is pushing up against the spinal nerve.
This helps to relieve pain and pressure that is causing this chronic discomfort.