A Guide To Herniated Disc Surgery

The operation for slipped disc, or disc surgery as it is known, was once considered to be a risky operation that could lead to long term disability. Today, it has become a sophisticated operation without too much cause for concern.

A ruptured disc, also termed herniated disc, is caused when the disc capsule breaks opens and enters into the spinal canal, putting pressure on nerve roots. Gel comes out of the disc and causes even more pressure on the spinal cord . This gel usually disintegrates.

When the disc ruptures, the padding between the two vertebrae goes off. The bone then gradually wears away and causes arthritis. A very severe and sharp pain is caused as a result of this which worsens with the passing years. An x-ray does not show a ruptured disc, but it can easily be captured by an MRI or a CT scan.

The best way to give relief to the damaged disc is bed rest or back brace, or treatment through physiotherapy. Apart from the above non-operative treatment option, there is an operative treatment that can be employed in select cases. This is an anterior disc surgery. When the patient does not get relief with the non operative treatment, the surgical option is exercised to bring relief to the patient, and reduce his pain.

However, there are some factors to be kept in mind before performing surgery for a herniated disc. The type of operation depends on factors like severity of the disorder, the extent of nerve compression, any previous operations, and the location of the broken disc.

The conventional method of performing the surgery is used to remove the affected disc or the herniated disc. A cut of about 3 inches long is made along the backbone in the lower back. The part of the disc that is broken is removed. In the lamina lying over the herniated disc, a window is created. From here, the disc is removed. The skin is then stitched up.

After the surgery, you are supposed to remain on complete rest in the hospital for about three days.

Post the operation, you will be relieved from the compression of the nerve root. But the back pain it brings along with it can be intense and persist for a long time. Patients can start walking on the same night of operation or the day after, and are generally discharged within 2 to 3 days.

Post-operative recovery is relatively fast, albeit painful owing to the pain related with disc surgeries. However, that might be a small price to pay for the severe discomfort of a herniated disc.

Degenerative Spine