Many people find that the operation effectively alleviates their painful symptoms of sciatica. There can be considerable variance in the type of surgery recommended by pain management doctors that are recommended and depend on the underlying cause. Surgery for sciatica is generally optional, which means it is the decision of the patient whether to have an operation or not.
Do the Symptoms Need Surgery?
Surgery may be necessary if the causes of sciatica are severe conditions, such as cauda equina, tumors, infections, or herniated discs. Surgical treatment helps preserve the function of the leg and improves life quality.
Other cases may be considered as an option, for example, when:
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Leg/foot pain and progressive neurological symptoms like weakness and/or stupidity have been associated with serious pain.
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Different treatment combinations, including physical therapy, oral medications, and injections, have been tried.
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There has been significantly limited functionality, for example, with considerable impairment of daily household activities and/or occupational activities.
Sciatica Surgery Options
Several lower back conditions with many corresponding types of operations can cause sciatica. For instance, depending on the position and causes of impingement, a pinned nerve root may be treated in several different ways.
Common Sciatica Operations Include:
Microdiscectomy – A small portion of the disc is removed in this operation to reduce the compression of the nerve root.
Lumbar Decompression – Nerve root pressure can be alleviated by:
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Laminectomy -To provide more space for the spinal nerves, part or all of the lamina (the posterior part of the vertebras) is removed.
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Foraminotomy – The neuroforamina (bony spinal openings) is enlarged by the overgrown bone, which gives the nerve roots more room when they leave the spinal canal.
Why Do You Need Surgery?
It can be difficult to make a decision when you are in a great deal of pain about a sciatic operation. Talk to your pain management doctors about the postoperative goals, particularly those relating to pain and activity. Do you expect to return to work and to the fitness center in a week? Do you hope that all the pain is gone for good?
Although most individuals experience up to 90% improvement in their pain after an operation with Sciatica, a doctor cannot guarantee this. After the surgery, there may still be dullness, and a risk of sciatica returning to the other vertebra always exists.
Causes of Sciatica
Sciatica has a number of causes, each of which requires somewhat different therapy. The possible reasons include –
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Herniated disc
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Spinal stenosis
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Spondylolisthesis
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Spine degeneration
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A cyst or a vertebral tumor
Though surgery can address most of these causes, it is seldom the first line of treatment. It will depend on the type of surgery.
**Disclaimer: This content should not be considered medical advice and does not imply a doctor-patient relationship.
