Pinched Nerve Surgery and Minimally Invasive Alternatives
Pinched nerve surgery may be recommended if non-invasive treatments, such as pain medication, physical therapy, and the use of hot/cold compresses, prove ineffective after several weeks or months. Pinched spinal nerves can occur in conjunction with a number of spinal conditions, including bulging discs, herniated discs, spinal arthritis, bone spurs, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and others. For most patients who suffer from these spinal conditions, non-invasive treatments are able to provide relief from the symptoms of a pinched nerve, which can include local or radiating pain, muscle weakness, tingling, cramps, spasms, and numbness. However, a small number of patients who suffer from chronic pinched nerve symptoms feel that surgery is required.
Open Back or Neck Surgery
Open back or neck surgery is commonly recommended to patients whose symptoms do not abate with conservative pinched nerve treatment methods. These operations are often highly invasive and typically require:
- General anesthesia
- Hospitalization
- Muscle disruption or dissection
- Significant removal of disc material, bone tissue, and other spinal components
- Stabilizing hardware
- A lengthy rehabilitation
In addition, open back or neck surgery also presets the risk for failed back surgery syndrome, infection, and a number of additional complications.
Minimally Invasive Alternatives
The orthopedic specialists at Laser Spine Institute have developed safe and effective alternatives to open back or neck surgery. Our procedures:
- Use deep IV sedation and local anesthesia, instead of general anesthesia
- Are performed on an outpatient basis
- Require a very small incision
- Utilize state-of-the-art endoscopic technology
If you visit or live in Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, or other communities in the Southwest and are considering pinched nerve surgery, contact Laser Spine Institute Scottsdale. Our doctors can provide you with a complimentary consultation and a free review of your MRI or CT scan.
