Laser Surgery For Neck Pain Relief

spinal stenosis

THE SKINNY

Laser surgery for chronic neck pain relief is a relatively new medical procedure that has proven to be at least partially effective in the large majority of cases. Although laser surgery this is less invasive than more traditional procedures, it is still considered significant surgery and should be approached as such. There are a number of practices in the country that specialize in spinal laser surgery.

Laser surgery for neck pain relief should be considered only after physical therapy protocols have been exhausted. There are also pharmaceutical products that have proven effective for cervical pain management, such as Lyrica and Celebrex.

Laser surgery for chronic neck pain relief is a relatively new medical procedure that has proven to be effective in the majority of cases. Although laser surgery this is less invasive than more traditional procedures, it is still considered significant surgery and should be approached as such. There are a number of practices in the country that specialize in spinal laser surgery.

DOUBLE WHAMMY!

Unfortunately, most patients have multiple conditions occurring at once and may require a combination of surgical techniques. Patients can have a pinched nerve caused by spinal stenosis or foraminal narrowing, as well as having neck or back pain due to arthritis of the spine (facet disease). To treat these maladies, both a foraminotomy and a laminotomy can occur simultaneously.

Wikipedia defines a laminotomy as: "a neurosurgical procedure that removes part of a lamina of the vertebral arch in order to decompress the corresponding spinal cord and/or nerve root."

Cure-back-pain.org defines a foraminotomy as: "a back surgery procedure used to enlarge the opening through which a spinal nerve passes as it exits the spinal canal. When this opening is reduced due to a spinal problem or injury, there is less room for the nerves to pass between the bones. This sometimes causes a pinched nerve and the usual painful symptoms."

Since the laser procedures are less invasive, and recuperation time is less than traditional spine surgeries, it is not any more difficult on the patient to treat more than one condition at a time. It actually allows patients to return to their lives sooner. A Cervical Neck Traction may be good idea for neck pain relief.

UNDER THE "KNIFE"

First, IV sedation and a local anesthetic are administered, then a small incision is made and a round tube is inserted into the incision. A series of tubes of increasing size are placed over the first tube, one at a time, to slowly create an opening to the spinal canal. The muscles are rarely pushed out of the way and are not torn or cut. The last tube is about 18 millimeters in diameter (about as big as a small marker) and the surgical instruments: laser, camera, suction, irrigation and other necessary instruments are inserted through it.

Once everything is in place, the surgical team can begin the procedure. Some patients experience immediate pain relief during the procedure when the nerve(s) are released. Decompressing the spinal canal can directly affect the patient's back or neck pain and can resolve them permanently. Finally, the tube is slowly removed, the muscles to move back into place and the procedure is complete. Sometimes, but not always, a stitch or two is necessary for the incision.

OUTA THERE!

After only 1 or 2 hours of monitoring, the patient is free to go! The minimal recovery time is obviously attractive to patients at the outset. All indications are that laser spine surgery is here to stay! This is an unsolicited, non-medical review