A few different types of surgery can be done to help with degenerative disc disease. The type of surgery that is best for you will depend on how bad your symptoms are and what other health problems you have. Degenerative disc Shrewsbury can cause pain in your neck or back, making it hard to move around.
What is degenerative disc disease?
Degenerative disc disease is a condition that happens when the discs in your spine start to break down. This can happen because of wear and tear from everyday activities, or an injury can cause it. Over time, the discs can become thinner and less able to cushion your spine. This can lead to pain and other problems.
More of the symptoms to expect include:
- Severe pain in your neck or back
With severe pain comes the lack of ability to do the things you once loved. Daily activities can become a struggle, and it may feel like your life is on hold.
- Numbness or tingling in your arms or legs
The numbness and tingling are caused by the degenerative disc putting pressure on the nerves around it. This can make it hard to do things like grip a steering wheel or lift objects.
- Weakness in your arms or legs
The weakness is also caused by the degenerative disc putting pressure on the nerves around it. This can make it hard to do things like walk or stand for long periods.
If you have any of these symptoms, consult your doctor. They can tell if you have degenerative disc disease and what the best treatment option is for you.
These are the different types of surgery that can be done for degenerative disc disease:
Spinal fusion
This is the most common type of surgery for degenerative disc disease. The doctor can remove the damaged disc and put in a bone graft during this surgery. This can help to fuse the two vertebrae. The bone graft can be taken from your hip or man-made. This surgery can be done through your abdomen or your back.
Artificial disc replacement
This surgery is also called disc arthroplasty. The damaged disc is removed and replaced with an artificial one in this surgery. This surgery is not done as often as spinal fusion because it is newer, and there is not as much information about how well it works.
Laminectomy
In this surgery, the doctor removes a part of the bone called the lamina. This can take pressure off of your spinal cord. During the procedure, the doctor can also take out the damaged disc. This surgery is often done along with a fusion.
Foraminotomy
In this surgery, the doctor removes bone and tissue to widen the foramen. The foramen is the opening between the vertebrae. This surgery is often done along with a fusion. With foraminotomy, the doctor can take out the damaged disc without having to do a laminectomy.
When you suffer from degenerative disc disease, these are the different types of surgery that can be done. Talk to your doctor at The Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine about which kind of surgery is best for you.
