When you are involved in an accident, whether it be a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, there is a good chance that you will injure your back. The severity of this injury can vary as can the treatment. Sometimes all you will need is rest and the pain will alleviate. Other times a few months of chiropractic care will be enough to eliminate your pain. Unfortunately, there are times when surgery is the only option.
As with any surgery that is recommended by your doctor it is always a good idea to get a second opinion. This is particularly true when someone is faced with back issues. They are often complex and can affect other parts of your body. It can take a team of medical professionals to diagnose and treat various back traumas. There are several different forms of back surgery that are available and you should be always be aware of the different options facing you. By researching the different operations you will be better informed when discussing this very important issue with your doctor. Listed below are some of the different procedures with a brief description.
* Diskectomy
In this surgery a portion of a disk, the herniated portion, is removed to allow relief of pressure on a nerve. It is done as an open surgery where the surgeon cuts skin and tissue to allow direct access to the involved organ. This surgery will usually involve removing part or the entire back portion of a vertebra to access the ruptured disk.
* Laminectomy
In a laminectomy the lamina which is the part of the back of the bony arch of each vertebra is removed. This surgery will enlarge the spinal canal to relieve pressure caused by spinal stenosis.
* Fusion
This is when two or more bones in your spine are permanently connected. The fusion will add stability to a spinal fracture or when there is a lot of movement between vertebra which will reduce pain. This surgery is also used to help with pain when the disk has been injured or has degenerated.
* Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy
This is also referred to as IDET. This treatment is where the doctor will insert a needle through a catheter directly into the disk. At this point the needle is heated to a high temperature for as long as 20 minutes. The result is the heat will thicken and also seal the disk wall which will reduce the disk bulge and the nerve irritation.
* Vertebroplasty
This procedure is for fractured or compressed vertebrae to help stabilize fractures and relieve pain. In this particular procedure the doctor will inject bone cement into the compressed vertebrae. This procedure is used with another procedure where a balloon type instrument is inserted to expand the compressed vertebrae before the cement is injected.
* Artificial Disks
This is a new treatment and is still being studied. Artificial disks are implanted as an alternative to spinal fusion for relief from pain caused by degenerated or injured disks. It is not clear whether these new devices are a viable surgery option.
There are many options in varying range. The smartest way to address issues is to research and discover as much information about your options. Do your home work so you can make an informed decision and hopefully achieve a pain free life. Also remember that your physician is your employee, you are paying him for a service. If at any time you are confused and want more answers do not hesitate to ask.
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