Rhizotomy and why they are needed
The human spine is made up of many independent parts. Most people are aware of the existence of vertebrae and the intervertebral disc material, but they only make up a portion of the entire spine.
The spinal column is made up of a series of vertebrae that move independently of each other. In between each of the vertebrae is a spongy material that is known as the intervertebral disc. It allows your vertebrae to move independently and to do so without rubbing together. From time to time, it may be possible that you have a herniated disc and when that happens, the herniation may come in contact with a nearby nerve root. This can lead to a lot of symptoms including pain, numbness, tingling and weakness.
One of the treatment options that may be suggested if you have this type of problem is decompression stabilization surgery. It is actually two different types of procedures that are performed at the same time. The decompression part of the surgery helps to relieve some of the pressure that is being put on the nerve root and many people experience almost instantaneous relief of their painful symptoms once it takes place. The stabilization part of the surgery fuses two of the vertebrae together so that they are not rubbing against each other and you don’t have a problem with stretching out ligaments, tendons and muscles in the area.
One of the decompression stabilization procedures is known as a microdiscectomy. This is often associated with a herniated disc in the lumbar region of the spine and can provide relief for sciatica symptoms. A lumbar laminectomy is another type of procedure that is performed on the lumbar spine but typically for spinal stenosis. This type of procedure decompresses the area to allow additional room for the nerve root and it helps to reduce pain as a result. As a side benefit of these types of procedures, you often experience fewer neurological symptoms in your legs after the surgery has been completed.
Since the disc or a part of the disc is being removed during this procedure, the stabilization procedure will need to be done. There may be some options for artificial discs that are used in some cases but stabilizing the spine is the most common thing to do. It can be done with a bone graft or with a device that helps to attach two of the vertebrae together or perhaps additional vertebrae, if there were multiple discs that were injured. Once the stabilization takes place and the area has healed, you can typically get back to your normal, day-to-day life.
The chronic pain associated with herniated discs is a problem for many people. It results in loss of work, and inability to enjoy life and sometimes, could even lead to depression. If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in cities such as Richardson or Frisco you can contact Dr. Dickerman to help you with your spinal problems. He is the leading specialist in the area and has helped many people with both surgical and nonsurgical options. Call his office today to get a consultation and begin your treatment.