How many herniated discs

A doctor may recommend surgery if conservative treatment options, such as physical therapy and medications, do not reduce or end the pain altogether. Doctors discuss surgical options with patients to determine the proper procedure.

As with any surgery, a patient's age, overall health and other issues are taken into consideration. The benefits of surgery should be weighed carefully against its risks. Although a large percentage of patients with herniated discs report significant pain relief after surgery, there is no guarantee that surgery will help. Lumbar laminotomy is a procedure often utilized to relieve leg pain and sciatica caused by a herniated disc.

It is performed through a small incision down the center of the back over the area of the herniated disc. During this procedure, a portion of the lamina may be removed. Once the incision is made through the skin, the muscles are moved to the side so that the surgeon can see the back of the vertebrae. A small opening is made between the two vertebrae to gain access to the herniated disc. After the disc is removed through a discectomy, the spine may need to be stabilized.

Spinal fusion often is performed in conjunction with a laminotomy. In more involved cases, a laminectomy may be performed.

In artificial disc surgery, an incision is made through the abdomen, and the affected disc is removed and replaced. Only a small percentage of patients are candidates for artificial disc surgery. The patient must have disc degeneration in only one disc, between L4 and L5, or L5 and S1 the first sacral vertebra. The patient must have undergone at least six months of treatment, such as physical therapy, pain medication or wearing a back brace, without showing improvement.

The patient must be in overall good health with no signs of infection, osteoporosis or arthritis. If there is degeneration affecting more than one disc or significant leg pain, the patient is not a candidate for this surgery.

The medical decision to perform the operation from the front of the neck anterior or the back of the neck posterior is influenced by the exact location of the herniated disc, as well as the experience and preference of the surgeon.

A portion of the lamina may be removed through a laminotomy, followed by removal of the disc herniation for the posterior approach. Patients, who are a candidate for posterior surgery, frequently do not need surgical fusion. For anterior surgery, after the disc is removed, the spine needs to be stabilized.

This is accomplished using a cervical plate, interbody device and screws instrumentation. In a select group of candidates, artificial cervical disc is an option vs. The doctor will give specific instructions after surgery and usually prescribe pain medication. He or she will help determine when the patient can resume normal activities, such as returning to work, driving and exercising.

Fortunately, there is a spectrum of treatment options. Short-term treatment can mean taking anti-inflammatory medications, especially during flare-ups. Steroid injections may be considered if there is significant nerve pain. Long-term treatment usually involves a self-directed exercise program that you start with a physical therapist and then transition to doing at home.

If your bulging discs have caused lumbar stenosis and the symptoms are affecting your quality of life, surgery called lumbar decompression is an option.

The procedure is very patient-specific based on the type and level of stenosis, but, in general, it involves decompressing the spinal canal so that the nerves are no longer compressed. This, in turn, relieves the pain. Smith: Pain from a herniated disc comes on abruptly and usually affects one individual nerve root. Herniated discs are sometimes caused by an acute injury. In some cases, you may know the cause of the injury, such as twisting incorrectly.

Other times, I see patients who just woke up one day and noticed this pain in their back. If you've experienced symptoms for less than 6 weeks and have no nerve damage, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and steroid injections if needed can help resolve the issue in 6 to 12 weeks. If those don't work, an outpatient surgery called a microdiscectomy can alleviate pain quickly by relieving the pressure on the affected nerve root.

Smith: Within the Spine Center, our multidisciplinary approach allows us to care for most patients without surgery, from start to finish. We also have a surgery team in place so that patients who come to us initially who end up needing surgery can receive that continuity of care.

While this pain can sometimes be severe, if you have been dealing with chronic back pain, you may try to ignore it.

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor or ask for a referral to an orthopedic specialist to see if you need to take further steps to ensure that you keep your back and spine healthy. In general, when non-contained herniations go unnoticed or untreated, they can cause sequestered herniations. This is when the vertebrae compress the discs so forcefully that they rupture. This can cause intense pain for the patient, and oftentimes a loss of mobility.

If you have experienced any of these symptoms, be sure to consult your doctor immediately. When it comes to back pain, you want to make sure you identify the cause right away. If you're having trouble associated with herniations, be sure to ask your doctor about your options.