By Patrick Foote

If you are considering spine surgery as a herniated disc treatment, you’ve likely gone through several months of doctor-prescribed pain medication, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, stretching, hot/cold therapy, and a variety of other non-surgical therapies. You may even have gotten second, third, or fourth opinions about whether or not surgery is truly necessary. But what happens once you and your doctor agree that surgery is the right step for you? How do you know what type of surgery will be right for your condition? How do you start preparing for surgery? What should your expectations be in terms of recovery? These are all valid questions that your doctor should be able to answer in detail, though the following article may help you to get a broad outline of the surgical process.

Pre-Operative Preparation for Herniated Disc Surgery

Herniated disc treatment in the form of surgery will likely fall under one of two categories: an open spine operation or an endoscopic procedure. The latter is conducted by accessing the spine through a small incision and uses a series of tubes, an endoscope, and small surgical tools which will be used to remove the herniated section of the disc with as little disruption as possible to surrounding tissues.

The former, an open spine operation, is a broad term that encompasses many different surgical procedures. One of those surgeries is called a discectomy, during which the spine is accessed through a large incision and the herniated disc is removed in its entirety. The adjacent vertebrae are then fused together using a bone graft and stabilizing hardware.

Clearly, these two forms of herniated disc treatment will involve different pre-operative and post-operative preparations, and it is imperative that you find out the details of each before making a final decision.

Open Spine Surgery Preparation

In the case of an open spine operation, a bone graft will likely be used to perform the fusion after the disc has been removed. You may, therefore, be required to undergo a bone harvesting operation prior to surgery if you choose to have an autograft. Your doctor also will give you instructions about what you should and should not eat or drink before surgery, and he or she may require that you stop taking any medications with anticoagulant properties. This type of herniated disc surgery does require hospitalization, so it will be important that you arrange your schedule beforehand to accommodate several days of hospitalization, followed by several months of rehabilitation. You should also talk with family, friends, and medical professionals prior to surgery so that you can establish a post-surgical support group to help you through your rehabilitation.

Endoscopic Surgery Preparation

As with any other surgery, your doctor will give you instructions about how best to prepare your body for a minimally invasive procedure in terms of diet, exercise, and medications. As this procedure does not involve any type of vertebral fusion, bone grafts, or hardware, no harvesting operation will be necessary. An endoscopic procedure of this nature is generally performed on an outpatient basis without any hospitalization. Assuming there are no complications, you will be able to return home the day of your surgery. You will need a friend or family member to give you a ride to and from the procedure, and possibly to stay with you for several days after the procedure so that you can acclimate to any changes in mobility that you experience.

About the Author: 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 the treatment of

herniated discs

and several other spinal conditions.

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isnare.com

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