Back pain is no stranger to most of us. An occasional sore back is a normal part of life. However, back pain that hurts worse than usual or has lasted for longer than a few days may need medical treatment.
Treatments for back pain will vary depending on the cause and severity of the pain. In some cases, minimally invasive spine surgery may be your best treatment option.
When do you need minimally invasive spine surgery?
Typically, medical professionals will try to treat back pain with conservative techniques like physical therapy, chiropractic care, or medication. However, if these methods don’t work, your doctor will consider spine surgery.
Your doctor will review your symptoms, medical history, physical activities, and other relevant factors to determine if you’re a good candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery.
What are the different types of minimally invasive spine surgery?
Orthopedic surgeons are skilled in a number of minimally invasive spine surgery methods. Some of the ones we perform frequently at Florida Spine and Joint include:
- Discectomy — The discs in your spine are filled with fluid that helps cushion the vertebrae from friction and impact. If one or more of the discs are damaged, surgeons can perform a discectomy to remove the damaged portion of the disc to reduce pressure off the nerves in your spine.
- Laminectomy — The lamina is the part of your vertebrae that covers the nerves in your spinal column. It’s possible for the spinal column to grow more narrow due to spinal stenosis, which causes the lamina to put pressure on the nerves. A laminectomy treats this problem by removing a portion of the lamina bone to reduce pressure off the nerves.
- Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty — Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are frequently performed together to treat microfractures in the spine. Kyphoplasty uses a small balloon to widen the gaps in the microfractures. Vertebroplasty introduces bone cement into these gaps to seal the bones back together.
- Spinal fusion — If two or more adjacent vertebrae or the discs between them are damaged, a spinal fusion may be necessary. The goal of this procedure is to join two or more vertebrae together into one solid piece to reduce pressure off the nerves and provide support for your back.
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) — Arthritis and other degenerative conditions can cause pain in the facet joints of your vertebrae. This pain can often be treated with RFA. During this procedure, the surgeon locates the nerve ends in the facet joint and uses a radio wave to apply heat to the nerve. This can effectively block the nerve from sending pain signals to the brain.
Visit iRISE Spine and Joint in Miami for minimally invasive spine surgery
If you live in or near the Miami area and have chronic back pain, you may benefit from one of the minimally invasive procedures our team performs at iRISE Spine and Joint. Our orthopedic surgeons are skilled in these procedures and more for reducing back pain and improving your range of motion. Contact us today to talk to one of our patient care coordinators about minimally invasive spine surgery or to schedule an initial appointment.
