The first thing to do when considering bulging disc surgery is to ask yourself an extremely important question: Have I given conservative treatment methods every chance to work? Yes, the chronic pain, tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness associated with nerve compression caused by a bulging disc can be excruciatingly difficult to handle. And no, conservative, nonsurgical methods of treatment don’t always alleviate those symptoms. But there is a reason why surgery is the last resort for people suffering from disc-related neurological symptoms. That reason is painfully obvious to anyone who has suffered through the aftermath of a failed back surgery, which can leave a patient emotionally shattered and potentially in even more pain than before the operation. That said, if spine surgery was not a valid option, no one would ever agree to it. And hundreds of thousands of people undergo some form of spine surgery every year in the United States. The most important thing is to go into it with your eyes wide open, armed with every morsel of information you can gather.

Weighing The Benefits And Risks Of Bulging Disc Surgery

The goal of bulging disc surgery, whether performed in a hospital as open back or neck surgery or on a minimally invasive, outpatient basis, is to remove the source of nerve compression within the spine. A bulging disc occurs when the fibrous outer wall of an intervertebral disc is forced out of its normal boundary. This condition often remains asymptomatic; pain and other symptoms usually arise only when the outer wall makes contact with the spinal cord or an adjacent nerve root. If chronic pain or other symptoms persist after several weeks or months of conservative treatment, elective surgery may be indicated.

The potential benefits of spine surgery must be carefully weighed against the risks inherent to any kind of physical intervention within the spinal canal. The primary benefit, of course, is the alleviation of back or neck pain and other symptoms. Someone whose life has been irretrievably sidetracked by debilitating back or neck pain will, naturally, do just about anything to get back to the healthy, pain-free life they once enjoyed.

However, the risks and potential side effects of bulging disc surgery are not to be ignored. They include:

– Infection
– Nerve damage
– Internal bleeding
– Bone graft rejection
– Fusion hardware failure
– Allergic reaction to anesthesia

One of the most alarming potential risks of spine surgery is the condition known as arachnoiditis. This is an inflammation of the arachnoid lining, one of three linings found on the exterior of the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by the introduction of blood into the spinal fluid and is a rare, but extremely debilitating – and incurable – side effect of spine surgery.

Education Is Key

The more you know about your condition and the surgical options available, the less likely you will be to make a rash decision about undergoing surgery. Thorough research is vital. Start by asking your doctor or spine specialist to explain – in detail – every option available to you. But don’t stop there. Talk to friends and family who might have undergone similar surgical procedures. Research surgeons online at the websites for the American Medical Association, the Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and other surgical association websites. Seek a second or even a third opinion. Finally – and this may be the most important point – make absolutely sure that you have exhausted every conservative treatment available. If chronic pain and other symptoms persist after several weeks or months, surgery may just become your best path to relief.

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for bulging discs and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Bulging disc