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Lumbar Discectomy vs. Fusion: Which Surgery is Right for Me?

Lumbar Discectomy vs. Fusion: Which Surgery is Right for Me?

By Frederick M. Moore, MD

If you’re suffering from leg or lower back pain caused by a lumbar herniated disc, you’re probably on the hunt for ways to address your discomfort and get back to living a comfortable, pain-free life. After you’ve exhausted your nonsurgical options, it may be the right time to consider spine surgery if the painful symptoms of a herniated disc are still present—but which surgical procedure is right for you?

We’ll break down lumbar discectomy and lumbar fusion to help you learn more about the different procedures and what they treat.

What is a lumbar discectomy?

Lumbar discectomy is a surgical procedure to relieve painful symptoms caused by a herniated disc in the spine, such as leg pain (sciatica), foot drop, muscle weakness, numbness or tingling in the legs, and decreased mobility. During a discectomy, a spine surgeon removes any free disc fragments that are putting pressure on your spinal nerves. This may be performed via a traditional midline incision, or with newer techniques that allow a smaller incision, which achieves decompression implementing fiberoptic technology.

There are different types of discectomy surgery, which can either be aggressive or limited with regard to removal of disc material depending on your spinal anatomy, the size of the hole(s) in your lumbar disc, and your overall health. During an aggressive discectomy, all free disc fragments—as well as any additional material located inside the disc—are removed. Limited discectomy takes a more conservative approach by removing free disc fragments without probing the inner core of the disc (nucleus pulposus) for additional material to remove.

What is a lumbar spinal fusion?

Lumbar spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that treats pain resulting from abnormal movement of the vertebrae, whether due to spinal deformities such as scoliosis, spinal weakness and instability, or a herniated disc.

During a lumbar fusion procedure, bones are permanently “fused” or essentially joined together to reduce motion in painful areas of the spine. In some cases, the entire disc is removed and replaced with bone-like material between the vertebrae, which ultimately takes the place of the natural disc that functioned as a stabilizer and shock absorber.

How do lumbar discectomy and spinal fusion differ?

While a lumbar spinal fusion can stabilize the spine and reduce pain from a herniated disc, lumbar discectomy is the most common surgical approach because it’s less invasive than a fusion, preserves movement, has a shorter recovery period, and is associated with fewer complications.

In fact, lumbar spinal fusion is rarely the first surgical intervention a patient will get for a lumbar disc herniation. It is typically performed further down the degenerative cascade, often after a patient has already had one or more discectomy procedures. Appropriately selected lumbar discectomy patients are more satisfiedwith their results, and see fewer complicationsthan spinal fusion patients.

Despite the success of the discectomy procedure, there is a significant reherniation risk for approximately 30% of patients, often resulting in repeat surgery. Recently, newer technology (Barricaid) has significantly reduced the risk of reherniation for this group of lumbar discectomy patients.

Which surgical procedure is right for me?

The best way to determine whether you’re a candidate for lumbar herniated disc surgery—not to mention which procedure is the best fit—is to consult with a spine surgeon for a diagnosis and treatment recommendation. During your appointment, your physician may recommend a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to identify the root cause of the pain you are experiencing if you haven’t already been diagnosed with a lumbar herniated disc.

When determining the best option for you, your surgeon will consider the size and location of your herniation, the severity and duration of your symptoms, and the result of any previous treatments. If you are considering surgical intervention, the Barricaid implant can reduce your chances of needing a second discectomy surgery—and potentially a fusion—down the road if you have large holes (6 mm or larger) in your disc.

Take Diego, for example. Diego is a dedicated athlete with a lifelong passion for running and mountain climbing. After Diego suffered from multiple injuries that resulted in a lumbar herniated disc, several surgeons recommended a spinal fusion.

Diego explored his alternatives and chose a limited discectomy with Barricaid, an innovative technology that would allow him to return to the active lifestyle he loves with a lower risk of additional surgeries and disability.

If you’re suffering from a lumbar herniated disc and considering surgery, Barricaid may improve and enhance your outcome. Consult with our team at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists to see if you are a candidate for one of these ground-breaking procedures.

Warning Signs You May Have a Torn ACL

The joints in your body are what give you your mobility. Nature designed them to withstand a lot of wear and tear, but even nature couldn’t make joints and ligaments indestructible. Your knee receives a lot of stress on a daily basis, and its design is built for that, but the knee is also a common joint to need joint replacement in Jacksonville, FL, or ligament surgeries because of trauma or excessive wear. People who participate in high impact sports or who have physically demanding jobs are often at higher risk for knee injuries. A torn ACL is a common injury for sports players and almost always needs corrective surgery. Here are some warning signs that you might have a torn ACL. (more…)

An Insight on Shoulder Arthroscopy

Shoulder arthroscopy is an option for individuals who suffer from shoulder disorders such as labral tears and rotator cuff tears. This is a surgical procedure that is conducted to diagnose, visualize, and treat a number of issues within the shoulder joint and in the area surrounding the rotator cuff. Shoulder arthroscopy enables orthopedic surgeons in Jacksonville, FL to place a fiber optic camera inside of your shoulder joint. Doctors will be able to get a visual of all the components in the shoulder. With this method, medical professionals are able to perform numerous procedures without cutting open the shoulder. Here’s an insight on shoulder arthroscopy.  (more…)

Pain Management for Orthopedic Patients: What You Need to Know

One of the most important things to understand about the pain you may be experiencing after orthopedic surgery is that this doesn’t necessarily mean there is anything wrong. In truth, postoperative pain is a normal part of the body’s own healing process – but at the same time, this doesn’t mean that you will be forced to grin and bear it.

In fact, there are a wide range of pain management options available to orthopedic patients that are certainly worth exploring with your primary care specialist.

The Advantages of Regional Anesthesia

One of the most common pain management options for orthopedic patients involves the careful use of regional anesthesia. This typically involves a conduction block at the site of your surgery, or anywhere along the path between the surgical site and your spinal cord. There are a number of recent examples in particular that suggest the injection of anesthetic into joint spaces can dramatically reduce the amount of postoperative pain that a patient may be feeling. This is an option that is definitely worth discussing with your orthopedic surgeon before your procedure.

Get Your Expectations in Order

Additionally, it is critical that you understand as much about the pain management process as possible in order to adequately set your expectations for the road ahead. By far, the first few days after your surgery are going to be the worst – but take comfort in knowing that the pain will improve on a daily basis. Your body needs time to heal and you need to do whatever you can to support that. This is why the experts at The Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons agree that oftentimes the best pain reliever you have access to is peace of mind.

If you’d like to find out more information about the various treatment options available to Jacksonville orthopedic patients with acute pain, or if you’d just like to get answers to any other important questions you may have, please don’t delay – contact the Board Certified physicians at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists today.

How to Be Non-weight Bearing After Surgery

You are having ankle surgery and the doctor says you must be non-weight bearing on the affected ankle afterward, but what does that mean?

What is Non-Weight Bearing

The term non-weight bearing means you must avoid putting any of your body weight on the ankle for a designated amount of time. How does one remain non-weight bearing after surgery?

Why Being Non-Weight Bearing Matters?

When a physician puts in a non-weight bearing order it is because there is no way to know how much weight your foot or ankle can tolerate without causing damage. For this reason, non-weight bearing includes even allowing the foot to touch the ground.

How to Stay Non-Weight Bearing?

It might sound impossible but it is easier to manage than you might think. The trick is to have the right tools to help you get around without letting the foot touch the ground. The most common approach is to use crutches. If opting for crutches, make sure a medical professional provides instructions on how to use them. They must be properly adjusted to avoid putting stress on your arms and shoulders. Other options include:

Knee Scooter

A knee scooter looks like a bicycle but instead of a seat, it has a knee pad. You put your knee on the affected side on the pad and then use the other foot to push yourself forward. Your ankle and foot are safely tucked behind you to prevent any weight bearing. Like a bike, the scooter has brakes and handlebars to help you control your movement.

Seated Scooter

Just like the knee scooter but you sit on the seat instead of resting your knee on it. There are both manual and electric seated scooters available. The manual you push using the good leg and the electric are driven by a motor.

 

If you want to try either scooter, they are available for you to rent or buy.

 

Contact Orthopedic Specialists

It is not easy to remain non-weight bearing after surgery but it is important. If you ignore the doctor’s instructions, you might cause damage that you will need further surgery to fix it.

Maximizing Your Insurance Policy With End-Of-Year Care

When you purchase a health insurance plan, it’s common to assume that the costs and benefits of the plan are fixed. But because of the way that many insurers limit spending, the time of year when you visit the doctor has an enormous impact on the value you get from your plan. Typically, this means that the more care you receive toward the end of the year, the more you will get for your premiums. Thus as the holidays approach, consider the following:

Going Beyond Your Deductible

If you already reached your deductible, now is the time to stock up on medical goods and services. Obtain all the medicines, devices and other products you’ll have to buy during the year, provided that they’ll last long enough for you to use them. The more you buy now, the less you’ll have to spend later. 

Obtaining All Gratuitous Services

Many health plans provide services that do not contribute to your deductible, especially diagnostic and consultation ones. Get these before the year’s end. Even though they won’t directly save you money next year, they increase your odds of finding health issues early. If you do find such a problem, you can begin treatment before your deductible resets, reducing or even eliminating the cost of overcoming it.

Examining Your FSA

FSAs, or flexible spending accounts, allow you to shield a certain amount of money from taxes by earmarking it for health expenses. Check to see how much money you have left in this account, as well as how much of it you can roll over. It may be worth spending what’s left before the year is out.

Southeast Orthopedic Specialists accepts insurance from Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, BeechStreet, CareFirst and a myriad of other providers. For more information on making the most of your medical care in Northeast Florida, visit our website today.

How Physical Therapy and Surgery Work in Tandem to Treat Orthopedic Conditions

Physical therapy is crucial for ensuring the complete success of orthopedic surgery. After a surgery, your body needs to heal and it must be trained to regain function in the affected area. This is why our physical therapy specialists are committed to working alongside our surgeons to effectively treat everyone who walks through our door.

The Importance of Orthopedic Surgeons and Physical Therapists Working Together

Every condition is unique, and every surgical procedure is unique as well. Therefore, it is essential for the physical therapy that a person undergoes post-operation to be specifically tailored to their individual condition and procedure.

In order to ensure that they are developing the most effective physical therapy routine possible, our physical therapists work closely alongside our orthopedic surgeons to better understand the patient’s condition, the procedure that was performed and its outcome. Rather than taking a cookie-cutter approach to physical therapy, our therapists will design a physical therapy plan that is tailored specifically to you. Because of this, the surgical procedures at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists and the physical therapy that follows them are able to be much more effective at treating and healing a range of orthopedic conditions. This combined with the expertise of the physical therapists at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists allows us to provide exceptional care to each of our patients.

Enhancing Patient Outcomes Through Effective Physical Therapy

At Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, our approach to physical therapy is uniquely designed to enhance patient outcomes and dramatically improve the chances of success. If you would like to discover more about physical therapy at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, we invite you to learn more about the physical therapists working at our physical therapy facility in Jacksonville FL today.

What You Need to Know About Foot Surgery

If you are suffering from an injury or disease that has compromised your ability to put weight on your foot and is limiting your mobility, undergoing corrective surgery may be a very viable and effective option. If you are considering foot surgery, here is what you need to know.

Foot Injuries and Conditions are Often Complex

The human foot contains numerous bones, muscles, and ligaments packed into a relatively small space. With this being the case, injuries and conditions that affect the foot often or often complicated and require treatment by a specialist who is experienced with orthopedic surgeries involving the foot and ankle.

At Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, our foot and ankle specialists are among the most well-trained, well-equipped and experienced physicians in the country. Through state of the art procedures, customized treatment plans and high-quality physical therapy, we are able to help patients quickly recover from foot injuries and conditions.

Physical Therapy is Crucial

Surgery may correct the issue, but physical therapy is what allows your body to heal after the procedure is complete. This is especially true for foot and ankle surgery since your mobility is dependent on your ability to put weight on your foot.

At Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, we recognize the important role that physical therapy plays in the healing process after a patient has undergone surgery. Our goal is always complete and total recovery, and both our surgeons and physical therapists will work with you to ensure that this goal is achieved.

What to do Next

If you would like to explore foot surgery as an option for correcting a problem in your foot or ankle that has been caused by trauma or a specific disease, we invite you to contact us today and schedule an appointment. After diagnosing your condition, our foot and ankle specialists will devise a treatment plan designed to have you pain-free and back on your feet in little time at all.

How An Orthopedic Surgeon Can Help You

Whether arthritis, back pain, sports injuries or overall stiffness, an orthopedic doctor from Southeast Orthopedic Specialists can help treat your pain and discomfort. An orthopedic surgeon is a medical professional that is dedicated to the diagnosing, treating, prevention and rehabilitation of injuries, diseases or disorders relating to the musculoskeletal system. This can include tendons, muscles, nerves, joints, ligaments and bones. Many orthopedists specialize in certain areas, making them more knowledgeable for specific injuries such as hand & wrist or foot & ankle.

We at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists treat patients of all ages. We believe in treating as many conditions as possible without surgery using medication, exercise and other alternative and/or rehabilitative treatments. If necessary, we can recommend surgical treatment for patients who don’t respond to other treatment types.

What can Orthopedic Surgeons Treat

Some of the conditions or diseases that a Jacksonville orthopedic surgeon can treat include:

  • Back pain
  • Sciatica
  • Scoliosis
  • Ruptured discs
  • Bunions
  • Bone tumors
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Fractures
  • Bone abnormalities
  • Sports or work injuries
  • Arthritis
  • Torn ligaments
  • Torn tendons

What to Expect During Your First Visit

During your visit, one of our orthopedic surgeons in Jacksonville Beach Florida will conduct a personal interview on your medical history. From there, they will fully examine you and review any previous testing you may have had done. Next, they will conduct additional diagnostic testing such as blood tests, imaging or X-rays. Most orthopedic conditions or injuries may need more than one form of treatment. One of our medical professionals will discuss their suggested treatment options to determine a plan that works best for them.

Seek Medical Help from a Professional Jacksonville Orthopedic Surgeon Today

We at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists have the experience and success rate that you need to treat your injuries properly. Established in 2001, our 13 board certified physicians have helped a variety of patients at all our six locations. We offer physical therapy at each of our offices to provide the best orthopedic care to our Northeast Florida clientele. Schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic surgeons in Jacksonville Beach FL today by calling 904-634-0640.

Orthopedic Surgery: Questions to Ask Your Orthopedic Doctor

We are the orthopedic doctors Jacksonville residents turn to when they need orthopedic specialists that not only have the experience and tools to accurately treat people, but also who care about their patients. Before you choose an orthopedic doctor, you may ask yourself the following questions.

Is Surgery the Best Treatment Option?

Surgery is not always the first treatment options. In fact, our orthopedic doctors design treatment plans based on your unique health challenges and strengths. Other treatments that might precede surgery include:

The idea behind most presurgical treatments is to improve muscle strength, relieve inflammation, and allow the joint or bone time to rest and heal.

What Are the Benefits of This Procedure?

This is a powerful question and one that all of our surgeons welcome. We believe that you the patient are the most important part of your healthcare team. That is why we are happy to discuss with you all of the details of your treatment plan. We want you to make decisions based on all of the important information.

Do the Success Rates of This Surgery Make it Worthwhile?

Sometimes, medical practitioners offer treatments that MIGHT work or might help to relieve symptoms. One of the reasons that we are the orthopedic doctors in Orange Park Florida that residents choose is that we don’t practice medicine with “Might work” in mind. We plan your treatment with you, and we discuss the success rates, treatment options, and outcome expectations with you so that together we form the best plan of care for your unique situation.

If you have a question about treatment options, reach out to our team.

How Long is Recover and What Should I Expect Regarding Improvement?

This is a valuable question for two reasons. First, it allows you to understand what you face and what you should expect. Secondly, the answer to this question allows you and the doctor the understanding of what you will go through as you recover and where along the progress cycle, this procedure will take you.

As you consider surgery, recognize that there are many questions that you should ask your doctor, contact us today!

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