Lumbar Surgery

Bulging Disc

Bulging disc is a spinal condition that occurs when the annulus fibrosus, which is the tough outer layer of an intervertebral disc, is compromised and allows the nucleus pulposus, which is the jelly-like inner layer of the disc, to push out past the normal limits. In most cases, this is a benign condition that doesn't produce any symptoms. However, if the disc bulges too far, it can press on a nearby nerve root or even the spinal cord.

Bulging Disc in the Back

A bulging disc in the back can be a truly excruciating condition that can keep you from doing everyday tasks and enjoying your hobbies. If you're suffering from this condition, you may be wondering how it got to this point and even what can bring it about.

Sciatica Surgery

Sciatica surgery is only an option for people who have been suffering from sciatica chronically and cannot maintain a good quality of life by using less invasive treatment methods. The type of surgery utilized varies based on what's causing compression of the sciatic nerve.

Lumbar Spinal Surgery

For many people, the concept of lumbar spinal surgery entails general anesthesia, a large incision, cutting through muscle, and a long stay in the hospital. However, this isn’t the case with procedures performed at Laser Spine Institute. Laser Spine Institute offers lumbar back pain sufferers alternative procedures that utilize advanced endoscopic techniques to successfully treat conditions including herniated disc, bulging disc, bone spurs, degenerative disc, spinal stenosis, and more. These procedures are performed with minimal trauma to the body, use local rather than general anesthesia, are performed in an outpatient setting, and have a quicker recovery period.

Lumbar Spinal Fusion

A lumbar spinal fusion is a procedure in which two or more vertebrae are joined together, usually by means of screws, plates, and bone grafts. Ideally, the bone grafts heal around the hardware, eliminating motion between the fused vertebrae and effectively making them into one unit. However, this procedure comes with significant risks and consequences, not the least of which are the inherent risks of any surgery involving general anesthesia and large incisions.

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a condition in which a portion of the spinal canal in the lower portion of the back, known as the lumbar region, narrows. Many times this condition doesn’t produce any symptoms because it does not progress to the point that a nearby nerve root or the spinal cord is compressed. However, when it does get this severe, it can present symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness, burning, and more in the lower back, buttocks, legs, and feet.

Preparing for Lumbar Stenosis Surgery

Lumbar stenosis surgery is a procedure that will attempt to relieve compression on the spinal nerves in the lower back. “Stenosis” refers to the narrowing of any neural body, so the operation will involve the removal of debris or disc material that is causing the spinal column to constrict. A variety of back conditions can cause stenosis. Sciatica, herniated discs, bulging discs, or bone spurs can all cause stenosis and the accompanying pain, tingling, and numbness. 

Staying Active After Lumbar Disc Surgery

Although your first instinct after you undergo lumbar disc surgery may be to rest in bed for several days, it is important to resist the urge to become immobile. After your procedure, both the surgeon and a physical therapist will explain to you the importance of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle to assist in the rehabilitation process. 

Endoscopic Lumbar Spine Surgery at Laser Spine Institute

In general, there are two types of lumbar spine surgery available for patients suffering from conditions such as sciatica, herniated discs, bulging discs, spinal stenosis, or bone spurs: invasive surgery and minimally invasive surgery. Before making any decision about surgery, however, it is important to not only gather all of the facts, but to also try all the non-surgical treatments options at your disposal.
Many patients have found success in treating their lumbar spine pain through conservative methods such as heat therapy, restorative yoga, resistance exercises, and pain medication. However, there are still individuals whose lower back pain becomes severe and chronic, despite trying these treatments. For these patients, lumbar spine surgery becomes an option. There are two types of spine surgery, invasive and minimally invasive.

There Are Treatment Options for Lumbar Pain Caused By Degenerative Disorders

Lumbar pain can take a variety of forms, but an extremely common denominator for many lower back pain symptoms is a degenerative condition in the spine. Because the lumbar region is involved in so many of our body’s movements, from arching and bending to twisting and lifting, it is often the first region of the spine to grow weaker as we age. The lumbar spine is also supports more weight than the cervical (neck) and thoracic (middle back) regions, which also makes it especially prone to damage. 

Gentle Lumbar Surgery at Laser Spine Institute: A 5-Day Process That Relieves Pain

When you are dealing with lower back pain, it might seem like it has robbed you of years of your life. Unable to care for your loved ones, exercise, run errands, or work, you want the fastest and most effective lumbar surgery for your lower back pain because you are eager for your life to return to normal as soon as possible.

At Laser Spine Institute, we understand your desire to get your life back. For you and the thousands of others suffering with lower back pain, LSI has streamlined our minimally invasive lumbar surgery into a 5-day process that can have you back at home and experiencing relief from your pain in less than a week.

Lumbar Surgery & the Minimally Invasive Alternatives Available at Laser Spine Institute

If you have tried medication, injections, chiropractor visits, and similar treatments for your lower back pain and have not experienced lasting relief, lumbar surgery is often the next step. When you’re dealing with something as serious as surgery, Laser Spine Institute hopes you will explore all of the options available before you make a final decision.

At LSI, we believe that our patients deserve nothing but the best treatments for their back pain. For this reason, we are dedicated to offering the most innovative lumbar surgery and other procedures at a state-of-the-art facility where patients receive unparalleled care and compassion.

Lumbar Surgery at Laser Spine Institute: Why Laser Surgery is Preferred Treatment for Many Patients

Lumbar pain is something that must be experienced to truly understand the devastating effect it can have on a person’s life. Originating in the lower back and often traveling to the legs, lumbar pain can halt your everyday routine and lifestyle. If it gets bad enough, lumbar pain can make you a prisoner of your bed or couch, barely able to get up and take care of your own basic needs.

Once lower back pain has reached this point - and conservative treatments like medication and exercise have not provided lasting relief - lumbar surgery is the recommended next step. In the past, the only option for lumbar surgery involved open back procedures. Not only do these procedures mean a long incision, hours of general anesthesia, and the risk of infection, but they also can mean a recovery period lasting a year or more.

Lumbar Surgery at Laser Spine Institute: Am I a Candidate?

Lower back pain, also known as lumbar pain, can seize you at any time and leave you practically incapacitated. The pain in your lower back may wake you up throughout the night so that you always feel exhausted. Lumbar pain also may travel from your lower back to your legs and feet, making it very difficult to stand, sit, bend over, or walk.

If you are tired of the grip of lower back pain, lumbar surgery might be recommended to ease your symptoms. After speaking to your doctor, however, you may have winced when you were told that lumbar surgery could involve spinal fusion - a bone graft that halts motion in the painful area of your spine. Spinal fusion not only limits your mobility and puts stress on the rest of your spine; it’s also an invasive procedure involving a hospital stay, long recovery, hours of general anesthesia, and other risks.

Lumbar Puncture

The reasons for having a lumbar puncture procedure may be to perform analysis of cells or to relieve intracranial pressure.  Intracranial pressure is pressure exerted by the cranium (skull) on brain tissue…

Lumbar Fusion

Lumbar spinal fusion is a surgery performed to fuse two vertebra together to provide more stability for patients suffering from degenerative disc disease and other condition that cause instability in the spine…

Lumbar Decompression

For those who suffer from back or spine conditions, this form of surgery may be recommended.  Common conditions that may target you as a candidate for lumbar decompression may be spinal stenosis or disc herniation…

Lumbar Traction

Lumbar traction is a form of treatment for spinal conditions and has proven to be an effective mechanism offering patients pain relief and increased mobility.  While the long term effects of lumbar traction are still inclusive, the short term benefits are encouraging for suffering patients.

Lumbar Back Surgery

There are different forms of lower back surgery, however before describing these forms of surgery, it will be helpful to understand the lumbar spine anatomy. 

Inversion Therapy

Inversion therapy is an age old technique that has been modified to reflect modern medicine. The purpose of inversion therapy is to overcome the effects of gravity. Both gravity and muscle imbalance cause the vertebrae to compress causing pressure on the discs

Lumbar Surgery Alternative

To understand why surgery is such a recommended form of treatment, it is important to understand the cause of lumbar spinal stenosis and its effect on you.  We will describe how this condition develops as well as signs and symptoms and an outline of the procedures: lumbar foraminotomy and lumbar laminotomy. 

Laminectomy Risks

A lumbar laminectomy is similar to a microdecompression and is performed to correct pain being caused by nerve compression. This lumbar surgery is designed to remove the portion of the bone or disc material impinging the nerve root, increasing the space available.

Conditions Treatable With Lumbar Surgery

If your back condition progresses far enough and does not heal through conventional treatment, lumbar spine surgery may be recommended. Let’s take a look at two conditions that can possibly progress this far.

Lumbar Surgery Recovery

Several days after your surgery, the dressing that you have been wearing over your incision will be removed. Stitches or sutures that are under your skin will dissolve on their own as natural healing occurs.