Spine surgery is a sensitive topic for many people, if they’re in pain and need surgery to relieve it. There are several types of spine surgery options, each with risks, benefits, and recovery time. In this article, Dr. Gurneet Sawhney, one of the best spine surgeons in Mumbai, talks about different types of spine surgeries.
Types of Spinal Surgeries
What type of spinal surgery you need depends on your condition. If you need spinal surgery to improve your quality of life, your doctor will recommend whichever type best suits your needs. Recognizing what kind of spine surgery you need can help you take the correct steps before and after the procedure. The sooner you begin planning the procedure, the smoother your recovery period should be.
Dr. Gurneet Sawhney is one of the best spine surgeons in India. He has over 17 years of experience in treating patients with spine problems successfully and is an expert in this field. According to Dr. Sawhney, the following are the different types of spine surgeries:
Disc Replacement Surgery
Disc replacement surgery is a newer approach to treating spine pain caused by degenerative discs. It uses artificial discs to replace the natural discs that have become too worn or damaged to function properly. The discs are found between the vertebrae of the spine. They act as cushions that help distribute the stress of everyday activities, so your bones don’t experience the total weight of your body.
Discs can dry out over time, which can cause them to shrink and start to pinch the nerves that travel through your spine. This pinched nerve pain is known as sciatica and is one of the most common reasons people seek treatment for back pain. Disc replacement surgery works to replace the damaged discs with artificial discs made out of metal and plastic. These artificial discs last longer and provide better support than natural discs, says Dr. Sawhney. When they wear out, they can also be replaced.
Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion surgery fuses two or more of your vertebrae. This is used to correct various spinal conditions, such as degenerative disc disease. It’s also occasionally used to treat scoliosis, a medical condition that causes the spine to curve abnormally. Fusion is often recommended if you have a degenerative disease that has progressed to the point where your discs have worn out.
According to one of the best spine surgeons in Mumbai, Dr. Sawhney, it’s also sometimes used to treat scoliosis if it hasn’t responded to any other treatments. Spinal fusion is one of the most common types of spine surgery. It’s often used as a last resort for chronic back pain patients who haven’t responded to other treatments. The fusion surgery joins two or more of your vertebrae together with bone graft material. This tightens the joint and eliminates the pain of an unstable joint.
Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
If the pain in your lower back and leg isn’t caused by a pinched nerve but rather a degenerative disc herniation, TLIF may be the best option. A TLIF uses an incision in the back to reach the problematic disc. The surgeon then removes the disc and replaces it with an expandable titanium implant that helps to stabilize the vertebrae and decompress the nerves. This is an excellent option if most of your sciatica pain is in your leg and you want to avoid an incision in the front of your back.
Spinal Decompression and Spinal Laminectomy
Spinal decompression and laminectomy are two surgical procedures that are used to remove bone or soft tissue from around the spinal canal, says Dr. Sawhney. They might be used if you have spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, or another spinal condition that has progressed to the point at which the nerves in the spinal canal are being compressed.
Spinal stenosis occurs when the bones in your spine narrow the passageway where nerves leave and enter the spinal cord. This can cause leg and back pain, numbness, and weakness for people of all ages. Spinal decompression and laminectomy are often used together to treat spinal stenosis. A partial laminectomy removes part of the lamina, a sheet of bone covering the spinal canal. This procedure is done to decompress the nerve root by removing the bone spurs, herniated discs, or soft tissue pinching the nerve inside the spinal canal.
Foraminotomy
Foraminotomy is a type of surgery used to treat stenosis that has progressed to the point where it’s pinching the spinal cord and causing numbness and weakness in the limbs. Foraminotomy is done to widen the spinal canal, so the nerves aren’t being compressed. It’s often combined with a decompression laminectomy to remove bone growths or soft tissue pinching the nerves. It is generally used when severe stenosis and other treatments, like pain medications or epidural steroid injections, haven’t helped relieve the symptoms.
What are the Benefits of Spine Surgery?
According to Dr. Sawhney, the following are the benefits of spine surgery:
Spine surgery can relieve some of the most painful conditions that affect the spine. These include herniated discs, stenosis, scoliosis, and degenerative joint issues. While many people associate spine surgery with adverse outcomes, several surgical options exist for treating these conditions. The appropriate surgery for one patient may be completely different from the next. This means that you should fully understand what your options are before committing to any one procedure.
For some, surgery may be the right choice. But for others, it might not be necessary. Every person’s situation is different, which means that each one will react differently to the same treatments. This is why it’s important to understand the risks and benefits of each type of spine surgery so you can make the right choice for yourself.
Conclusion:
A healthy spine is essential to leading a long, happy life. Unfortunately, diseases like scoliosis and degenerative joint conditions are common among people of all ages. Fortunately, there are various types of spine surgery available that can correct these issues. If you or a loved one suffers back or leg pain, you must see a doctor for help. Once your doctor diagnoses a spine issue, they can recommend the appropriate type of surgery for you. You can recover quickly and resume your everyday life with the proper treatment. You can visit Dr. Gurneet Sawhney, one of the best spine surgeons in Mumbai, for further queries and treatment.
Read more interesting articles at timesofworld
