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Herniated Disc Surgery – Types, Cost, and Complications 10/06/11

Are you having chronic back pains? Don’t ignore it, as it may already be a symptom of a herniated disc. Back pains are often ignored by people, thinking that it will go away eventually. This may be true, especially if the problem is solely tired muscles, but if the pain is severe and is already limiting your physical activities, the cause may not be as simple as you think.

Diagnosing the actual cause of back pain may need modern equipment such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).  The symptoms of back pain are very general, and basing the diagnosis on these cannot be accurate. Herniated disc is one common cause of severe back pain but the good thing is, this ailment can easily be treated through surgical or non-surgical means.

What is a herniated disc?

Rubbery discs that absorb shock and allow flexing or bending of the spine are located in between the vertebrae, in the spinal column.  Herniation occurs when a disc protrudes from the vertebrae, putting pressure on the nerves in the spinal cord. These nerves are very sensitive, and the slightest undue pressure may cause extreme pain.

What are the symptoms of a herniated disc?

People suffering from herniated disc often complain about pain in the lower back that extends to the thighs, due to the pressure exerted on the sciatic nerve.  Aside from pain; numbness, weakness, or tingling sensations can also be felt.  Some people also report difficulties in urination and bowel movement.

How can a herniated disc be treated?

Most people with herniated discs do not need any invasive treatment. In just a few months, pain is eliminated by undergoing physical therapy such as performing herniated disc exercises 3-4 times per week and by taking drugs that prevent nerve irritation. You just have to be cautious of your actions and refrain from doing any intense physical activities and carrying heavy objects as these will strain your back and make the pain worse. For some people, however, pain is not relieved by any medication and movements are severely affected, and in cases such as these, surgery may be necessary.

Herniated Disc Surgery – What are the types of surgical procedures?

• Discectomy
  

This procedure has been done for a number of years already and surgeons are constantly making improvements on the technique to make it less invasive. In fact, many kinds of discectomy have been developed including microdiscectomy, endoscopic discectomy, percutaneous discectomy, and laser discectomy. Basically, discectomy involves making a back incision, lifting the back muscles, moving the affected nerve, and removing a part of the disc that bulged out.

• Laminectomy

The lamina is a thin area on the backbone that forms an arch to protect the spinal cord, a laminectomy is performed in order to relieve the pressure on the nerves by opening up the spinal canal and removing the lamina. Depending on the severity of the problem, the surgeon may remove just a part or the entire lamina of a specific spine bone when performing this herniated disc surgery.

• Spinal Fusion

Sometimes, the movement in the vertebrae affected by herniated disc causes additional pain, requiring a herniated disc surgery called spinal fusion. This is usually performed after a discectomy and the vertebrae above and below the affected disc are fused together to lessen or totally eliminate the pain. The bone graft can be taken from another part of the body such as the pelvic bone and it is placed in between the vertebrae or at the back of the spine.

• Intradiscal Electrothermal Treatment (IDET)

In this procedure, electricity is applied on the aching disc for 15 minutes. You may feel pain initially but as the treatment progresses, the pain becomes less since the transmission of pain signals is considerably inhibited. Although this is one of the least invasive procedures, further studies into this form of herniated disc surgery are needed to support the use of IDET on herniated discs.

How much does herniated disc surgery cost?

The cost of a herniated disc surgery depends on the severity of the problem but it typically fares from $20,000 to $50,000 (for US patients), inclusive of the medications, hospital fees, and professional fees. It would be of great help if you have a health insurance that covers spinal surgery to lessen the amount that you have to pay. You will normally incur some other expenses after the surgery including the back brace, walking sticks, physical therapy fees, vitamins, and painkillers.

What are the pros and cons of having herniated disc surgery?

Herniated disc surgery is considered to be the last resort when no other medications seem to alleviate the pain caused by herniated disc. However, it is a very invasive procedure that when improperly done, may cause more harm than good. Some claim that there is a very little change in the degree of pain after the surgery. Additionally, certain procedures such as the spinal fusion can make the spine less flexible, causing limitations in your activities. Complications may also arise since excessive pressure is applied on the adjacent segments of the affected vertebrae. It may take a few weeks before you can perform your daily activities again, and you must really see to it that you only do light work after your herniated disc surgery.

Surgery is not all bad, especially if your sole purpose is to eliminate the pain. A large percentage reported that the symptoms have been totally eliminated after recovering from the surgery. Discuss with your physician the risks and benefits of having herniated disc surgery before deciding on the kind of treatment that you want.

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