NucleoplastyWhen successful, this procedure will cause the disc to shrink back to its original size and shape, eliminating painful pressure on the affected spinal nerve root. The nucleoplasty procedure is performed under local anesthetic and only takes about 30 minutes to complete. The patient can go home immediately. Most patients return to work in about a week and are instructed to limit vigorous physical activity for a few weeks. No formal rehabilitation methods are needed, but some patients find physical therapy to be very helpful in regaining functionality which may have been lost during the time they had chronic disc pain. Advantages of Nucleoplasty
The operation is extremely precise and does not remove more tissue than is necessary to shrink the disc. If too much nucleus tissue is removed, the disc will shrink more than necessary. In this case the disc will suffer from
degenerative disc disease,
instead of being herniated. This procedure offers good results with little risk taken by the patient. A more involved surgery can always be performed if results are poor. The procedure is relatively comfortable and should leave no scar tissue or physical limitations, as long as no complications occur. Warnings for Percutaneous DiscectomyThis procedure is designed specifically for bulging discs in which the disc wall is intact. This procedure should not be used for extruded or ruptured discs. The technique is also not advised for discs suffering from an annular tear. Percutaneous discectomy demonstrates the best results for treating herniated lumbar discs which are causing sciatica pain in the legs. Instances where back pain is the chief complaint are far less often resolved, since these are not caused by a compressive neuropathy in most cases.While well tolerated in most patients, there are always the usual risks of any surgical event to consider. There is a small risk of infection, as well as rare cases of nerve damage or scar tissue formation. If general anesthesia is utilized for any reason, this will increase risk factors substantially. The most common risk to consider is the incidence of re-herniations which occur in a great number of patients immediately or eventually. Recommendation for NucleoplastyIf you have not had good results with conservative treatments for chronic back pain, then this procedure might be a good option. Of course, you must actually be suffering from enclosed herniated disc as the definitive cause of your pain.If your condition meets the requirements for this operation and you have considered minimally invasive surgery, then this procedure is certainly a strong contender. It would be wise to try this approach to care before any other type of drastic surgery to correct the bulging disc. You have little to lose by trying and you might enjoy complete relief. Just remember that most bulging discs are not symptomatic, although they are often unjustly accused of causing pain. If the disc issue exists, but is not the source of discomfort, then “fixing” it will do nothing to relieve symptoms. This explains why a large number of postoperative patients demonstrate great anatomical results, but still have terrible symptoms. Nucleoplasty to Back Pain 6/18/06 Revised 2/4/12 |
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