Spinal decompression refers to a type of back pain treatment that can provide relief for patients who are suffering from back pain that originates in the compression of the nerves. But is spinal decompression safe?
In general, spinal decompression is considered a relatively safe procedure, although, like with any serious type of surgery, there are complications and precautions to take into consideration.
If you think that you might benefit from a spinal decompression procedure, take a look at this guide, which can describe some of the ins and outs of this procedure. This can help you determine whether or not this type of procedure would work for you.
What Is Spinal Decompression?
Spinal decompression refers to a number of different types of spinal treatments that can relieve patients suffering from back pain. The exact type of treatment utilized in spinal decompression will depend on the nature of the spinal injury at hand.
The spine is the central core of the human body’s physiology. Spinal injuries have the potential to be among the most debilitating and damaging kinds of injury that a person can experience. This is true whether a patient experiences an acute traumatic spinal injury or through the everyday wear and tear of daily living. Some of the conditions that spinal decompression can treat include:
- Sciatica
- Pinched or damaged nerves
- Spinal stenosis
- Herniated disks
- Degenerative discs
- Bulging disks
Is Spinal Decompression Safe?
Spinal decompression is relatively safe, although, like any serious surgery, it carries with it a number of possible risks. Your physician may recommend that you undergo a form of spinal treatment that is less invasive than surgery prior to resorting to an invasive surgery. Some of the available alternative treatments include:
- Chiropractic
- Physical therapy
- Acupuncture
- Traction treatment
- Nerve Stimulation
If any of the above treatments don’t satisfactorily treat your physical condition, then you may find that you should discuss spinal decompression surgery with your physician. They will then take the necessary steps to prepare you for this type of treatment.
The Different Types of Spinal Surgeries
There are many different types of spinal decompression surgeries, and which one you receive will have something to do with the exact nature of your spinal injury. The primary types of spinal decompression surgery include:
- Discectomy: The physician removes part of a damaged disk, which relieves some amount of pressure off of the nerves.
- Foraminotomy: Your physician expands the openings of the nerve roots in the spine by removing bone and other tissue. This has the potential to relieve pain in the spinal cord.
- Corpectomy: During this procedure, a surgeon removes an entire vertebra or disk. In order to stabilize the spine after the procedure, your surgeon may perform a spinal fusion. A spinal fusion fuses two disparate bones together to help to stabilize the spine.
- Osteophyte Removal: Osteophytes are a type of bone growth that tend to develop as an individual ages. Removing these bones can relieve some amounts of pressure in the spine.
- Laminotomy: During this procedure, your physician removes a section or the entirety of the bony arches on an individual’s spinal canal. The removal of these pieces of bone has the potential to relieve pain and discomfort.
Assessing the Level of Spinal Injury
To determine the exact level of spinal injury that is present in the body, your physician will perform a series of tests. Some of the primary tests that are employed to this end include:
- Diagnostic imaging: These types of tests can investigate the plausible underlying sources of your pain and spinal issues. Some of the kinds of tests that are included in this category include CT scans, X-rays, MRIs, and more.
- Electrical tests: These tests assess the level of electrical activity in your nerves and body. This includes how well the nerves send signals to the brain, as well as their general functionality.
- Discography: This type of scanning procedure has the potential to portray any damage that is present in the disks. This is achieved through injecting a type of dye known as a contrast into the spine.
- Bone scans: Bone scans can detect cancer, fractures and infections that are present in the bones and spine.
The Best Spinal Surgeon in Los Angeles
Dr. Yashar and the rest of the team at his office are one of the best resources for spinal treatments in Los Angeles. If you’re interested in discussing with Dr. Yashar some of the specifics regarding spinal decompression treatment, contact our office to set up an appointment.
