Spinal Chord SurgeryA spinal chord surgery can be necessitated due to a host of factors, of which compression on the chord is one of the most important factors. Here we see some of the causes, symptoms and treatment procedures involved in a spinal chord surgery. Causes for Spinal Chord Surgery Usually, the cause is compression on the nerves that make up the spinal chord. Over the years, the spine may narrow down due to wear and tear. When that happens, the spine will begin pushing into the chord that resides within it. This causes severe pains and necessitates a surgical procedure to decompress the spine. There are other reasons that might cause the compression too, such as hernias, thickening of the joints, loosening of the ligaments, etc. Deformities with the nerve openings into the disks in areas known as foramina can also cause spinal chord discomfort. Symptoms indicating a Spinal Chord Surgery The most prominent symptom is that of excruciating, unbearable pain. The pain is the most severe in the region of the compression, which could be in the neck (cervical), upper back (thoracic) or lower back (lumbar region). This and some of the surrounding region will become numb and the person will feel generally weak. If the compression isn't too severe, the person will experience a tingling kind of discomfiture in the region of the affliction. If the compression is more in the lower area of the back, then there could be unsteadiness of gait. Bowel and bladder incontinence will occur. All these symptoms cannot be taken on their own as diagnostic indications. Doctors will keep the patient on medication for a while (can extend to up to six months) and if the patient does not respond to medications, then spinal chord surgery is necessitated. Types of Spinal Chord Surgery There are several methods of spinal chord surgery used today. The most common methods are the laminectomy and laser surgery, though other methods such as diskectomy and foraminectomy are also used. Laminectomy is a method of surgical slicing of layers of the spine so that the compression on the chord is removed. This is done at a micro level so that more of the spine is not sliced off. Diskectomy and foraminectomy are related surgical procedures in which portions of the disk and the foramina are removed. The procedures are actually decided based on where the compression on the spinal chord is present. Since both are invasive methods, just as laminectomy is, they are only rarely used. The best preferred method in today's times is the minimally invasive surgical method. These methods, especially the X spot spinal surgery, are targeted methods where only the afflicted part of the surgery is removed, without invading other areas. These are also low cost treatment methods, because hospitalization is not required. People can be about their jobs within a day or two, and in some cases, these surgeries have been performed in the outpatient mode also. If there is a problem with the spinal chord, there's no way out but to go through a spinal chord surgery. At least there are various options here so you can choose the one that you prefer. |