Submitted by: Taylor Thomas

In the past, advanced spinal conditions almost always meant extensive, open-back surgery. Often called traditional back surgery , these procedures were used to treat everything from a ruptured disc to spinal stenosis.

Open-back surgeries are incredibly invasive and traumatic, cutting through the muscle tissue of the back to reach and oftentimes remove parts of the spine. Recovery times are known to take as long as a year, and a full recovery of the muscles in the back is highly improbable.

Luckily, outpatient surgical centers offer cutting-edge minimally invasive outpatient surgeries that can help set you on the path toward a healthy spine with a minimum of downtime.

How does it work?

Outpatient spinal surgery centers perform what are known as endoscopic surgeries. Endoscopic surgeries are performed via a tiny camera and tube called an endoscope. A laser is attached to the endoscope to allow surgeons to remove troublesome parts of discs or spine.

The equipment allows professionals to reach the spine through a much smaller incision than traditional open back surgery. Whereas the open -back surgery incisions alone can take up to two weeks to heal, endoscopic spinal surgery is typically an outpatient procedure.

Use of an endoscope allows access to the spine without the need to cut through the muscles of the back, making the extensive physical therapy associated with open back surgery a thing of the past.

Conditions Treated Via Endoscopic Surgeries

These centers offer a number of different treatments for many spinal conditions including spinal stenosis, herniated or bulging discs and other spinal conditions. A few of the procedures available include:

Endoscopic discectomy a laser-assisted surgery that removes bulging or damaged portions of the spine s intervertebral discs.

Foraminotomy- an endoscopic procedure that opens up the spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and protruding nerve roots.

Laminotomy- this procedure relieves the pressure on pinched nerve roots.

And many more

The Treatment Process

The quest to end your debilitating back pain should always begin at one place, your primary care physician s office. Only your physician can accurately diagnose what is causing your back pain and set you on a course to fix it. Your physician should give you a regimen of conservative treatment options to try before recommending any surgery. A few conservative methods that have helped other back pain sufferers find relief are pain medicine, stretching, inversion boards, a change in lifestyle (e.g. cutting down on junk food, alcohol and tobacco use), and exercise geared toward strengthening your back and core muscles.

If after several months you are gaining no relief from your symptoms, surgery may be an option. Always research your choice of ambulatory endoscopic surgery center.

Spinal surgery is an important and personal step. Try to find one that believes in a patient first philosophy, potentially providing patients with a designated representative who will walk them through the entire process from initial consultation through recovery.

Try to find Experts

Give their web site an once-over. Look for accreditations from the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care.

Do they explain that all surgery should be used as a last resort after conservative methods have failed to provide relief? If the center you are researching is attempting to give you a hard sell on surgery, you should look elsewhere.

Check off-site reviews and customer satisfaction ratings. In the age of the internet, people are readily vocal about their experiences with any given business. If the center is poorly rated, try somewhere else.

However, if the endoscopic surgery center you are researching appears to be a trusted source of excellent patient care, do not hesitate to set up a consultation.

About the Author: Taylor Thomas is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Thomas is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to

medicines and remedies

.

Source:

isnare.com

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