Anyone familiar with laser spine surgery?

[MegademiC]

Link to give me an idea of what he's doing?

Stuff like laying on the floor and lifting the legs at different angles. The goal is to build up supporting muscles to keep everything together and in place. I'd assume the doctors would tell you what needs done and if it's something that may help.

I wouldn't just do something without asking the doc as it may make it worse?

[ABNAK]

I don't have the pain every day (thank God!) but just about every morning now I'm stiff for a while. I've always been reluctant to lean towards back surgery as I've not heard good results, at least not a high enough percentage of success to do it. I was only asking about the laser stuff because it's marketed as "minimally invasive" and the whole Band-Aid thing. Yeah, probably just that: marketing. It's just that when it does flare up beyond morning stiffness it has your undivided attention because it's in your damn face (so to speak) for everything you do. Can't even stand up straight when it is full-on. I do ab/core exercises (I can hold a 3 1/2 minute plank) and for a long while that kept the flare-ups to maybe twice a year. I suspect it's just further breakdown as I get older.

[Averageman]

A lot of this stuff is Yoga, but I would clear that with my MD before proceeding.

Yeah, it is good for your back and the video's aren't bad either.

[ABNAK]

"Laser" spine surgery is a marketing hook. It's just minimally invasive spine surgery....removing the bulging disc through a small incision in the back. It's appropriate for about 30% of spine operations, and really has nothing to do with lasers. If all you have is a bulging disc, it might be appropriate for you. If you have any degree of spinal stenosis or any degree of spondylolisthesis, "band-aid" surgery won't be appropriate for you....you'd need a formal laminectomy and probably a fusion.

You need to take recent MRI in to a spine surgeon that does MIS, get his/her opinion. Don't rely on just one opinion, get two or three.

I don't have any sciatica or any shooting pains/weakness. It's all local to the lower back, left > right.

[ABNAK]

A lot of this stuff is Yoga, but I would clear that with my MD before proceeding.

Yeah, it is good for your back and the video's aren't bad either.

I looked into yoga once and was told that if you had lower back issues to proceed VERY cautiously with some of the stretches/exercises. I'm all for it mind you, as I've heard good things about yoga.

[NYH1]

In 2011 I had back surgery. They took the disks between my S1, L5 and L4 out. Basically they put in spacers to take the place of the disks. Put screws into the vertebras with rods to hold everything together. I think it's called a laminectomy, discectomy and spinal fusion procedure.

It turned out horrible. A guy I worked with had the same thing done a year before me and his turned out great. If you're not in pain....bad to very bad pain everyday I would try everything else available before having surgery. As others have said, get more then one opinion. Make sure it's a doctor that specializes in backs too, not just your run of the mill orthopedic doctor.

Good luck, NYH1.

[chuckman]

"Laser" spine surgery is a marketing hook. It's just minimally invasive spine surgery....removing the bulging disc through a small incision in the back. It's appropriate for about 30% of spine operations, and really has nothing to do with lasers. If all you have is a bulging disc, it might be appropriate for you. If you have any degree of spinal stenosis or any degree of spondylolisthesis, "band-aid" surgery won't be appropriate for you....you'd need a formal laminectomy and probably a fusion.

You need to take recent MRI in to a spine surgeon that does MIS, get his/her opinion. Don't rely on just one opinion, get two or three.

This, yes, and always.

Remember, the only optional back procedure is the first one.

[just a scout]

A lot of this stuff is Yoga, but I would clear that with my MD before proceeding.

Yeah, it is good for your back and the video's aren't bad either.

I'll be in my bunk.


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[Hmac]

This, yes, and always.

Remember, the only optional back procedure is the first one.

Minimally invasive spine surgery is pretty straightforward. It doesn't involve the architecture of the spine and is only done if there is a minimum amount of arthritis and spurring. Therefore, there's no disruption of supporting bone or ligaments, therefore the trend toward the usual spine surgery horror stories isn't necessarily applicable.

That said, it would be unusual that a competent spine surgeon would operate on bulging discs, even MIS technique, if there were no signs of nerve root compression.

The other issue to mention is that one should be careful in selecting a spine surgeon. Make sure you see one that is Fellowship trained in spine surgery, and that spine surgery is all they do. One should avoid having any kind of spine operation done by someone who only does spine surgery as part of their neurosurgery or orthopedic practice.

[TAZ]

I'm sorry about your troubles. Stay off late night TV medical advice. My FIL had a few vertebrae fused due to ruptured discs and would call it mixed outcome. Short term the pain went away, long term he has new issues with vertebrae shifting relative to one another and essentially putting shearing load on his spinal cord. New pain.

Go see a spine specialist if your insurance covers it and get some opinions. If you're able to manage pain or the pain goes away as you "warm" up so to speak, it may not be as bad as you think an surgery may be overkill. I have a few damaged disks that used do the same thing. Stuff as all hell in the AM or sit long enough and they get stiff. Thought the worst, but all I needed was some PT for strength, stability and ROM. Also took a yoga for better backs class and just do some of the stretches to date. Still get some stiffness if I don't balance strength work between abs and back, but nothing like before.