Chronic back and neck pain is a severe health concern that affects almost 65 million Americans. This pain can be caused in numerous ways, including accidents, poor posture, osteoarthritis, physical stress, and other medical concerns. Fortunately, several treatments are available to relieve neck and back pain and prevent it from recurring.
If the pain source is due to the vertebrae's excessive movement, one of the treatment options that might be recommended is spinal fusion surgery. Spinal fusion surgery connects two or more vertebrae that exhibit excessive movement and are causing pain.
But while spinal fusion has demonstrated efficacy in certain cases, there is a growing need for alternative options that offer pain relief without the invasiveness and potential complications associated with traditional spinal fusion surgery.
This article will cover all you need to know about spinal fusion alternatives, both surgical and non-invasive.
Spinal fusion surgery is a treatment option that provides relief from pain associated with conditions like herniated discs or bone spurs. Patients who undergo this surgery often experience chronic pain, limited range of motion, coordination difficulties, as well as numbness and tingling sensations.
The videos below explain some of the reasons patients might experience pain in the cervical and lumbar spine
The procedure addresses these debilitating symptoms by:
The primary goal of spinal fusion is to permanently join or "fuse" two or more vertebrae together, creating a solid bone structure. This fusion restricts movement between the fused vertebrae, providing stability and reducing pain caused by excessive motion or pressure on nerves.
However, the fusion process is not immediate and typically takes around 3-6 months for the bones to solidify into a single structure.
This surgical technique is employed to treat various conditions, diseases, and back problems. To ensure proper bone graft growth and healing, surgeons may utilize additional bone material, medical-grade titanium rods, screws, or a combination thereof.
The benefits of spinal fusion surgery are numerous and can significantly improve patients' quality of life.
While it can provide stability and alleviate pain, spinal fusion is a complex and invasive procedure that carries certain risks and considerations.
Spinal fusion surgery is a surgical procedure that involves a significant level of invasiveness. The potential risks associated with spinal fusion surgery include:
At the Deuk Spine Institute, we understand that each patient's needs are unique. If invasive surgery isn’t your preference, we offer a highly effective alternative known as Deuk Laser Disc Repair. This innovative approach is designed to eliminate back or neck pain resulting from a herniated or bulging disc.
Unlike spinal fusion, Deuk Laser Disc Repair is a significantly less invasive procedure that focuses on eliminating the source of pain while preserving the integrity of the spinal structures.
There are several spinal fusion alternatives that can be considered depending on the specific condition and needs of the patient. These alternatives aim to provide pain relief and improve functionality without the need for a fusion procedure.
Here are some of the best spinal fusion alternatives:
What it is: Deuk Laser Disc Repair is an advanced and revolutionary alternative to invasive spine surgeries like total disc replacement and spinal fusion. Deuk Laser Disc Repair is the most advanced laser surgery in the world. The procedure was developed by Dr. Ara Deukmedjian MD, a renowned neuro-spine surgeon and true pioneer in minimally invasive, laser, and endoscopic back and neck pain treatment. Unlike traditional surgeries, Deuk Laser Disc Repair preserves the health and integrity of the spine.
How it works: The procedure involves making a small incision, less than a quarter inch long, through which a cylindrical rod called a dilator is inserted in the small opening to gently spread the muscle to create a small passage and guide through which the surgery is performed endoscopically. The tip of the dilator is advanced into the symptomatic disc through the tear in the annulus where the herniation originates, and a tube called the retractor slides over the dilator and is carefully positioned into the painful disc. The rest of the entire Deuk laser disc repair surgery will occur inside this narrow tube. To access the spine, an endoscopic camera is inserted into the tubular retractor to allow the surgeon to guide the laser inside each symptomatic disc. This process ensures that bones and surrounding tissues are not damaged, unlike traditional spinal fusions, microdiscectomy and artificial discs.
The Holmium YAG laser used in the Deuk laser disc repair is manipulated accurately with millimeter precision under endoscopic visualization to remove only painful inflammatory tissue from the back of the disc. The laser is precisely used to remove damaged disc material that is causing the pain. This process is called debridement of the annular tear and Dr. Ara Deukmedjian MD was the first in the world to use and publish this technique.
Once the laser has removed the inflamed painful part of the annular tear and the herniated nucleus pulposus, the endoscope and tubular retractor are removed, leaving less than one-quarter inch incision in the skin, which can be closed with a single stitch and a band-aid.
The total time for the Deuk laser disc repair surgery is one hour, and the patient is in recovery for about 45 to 60 minutes before being released to go home. Hospitalization is not needed and the risks of hospital-based surgery are avoided.
Deuk laser disc repair ensures there’s no loss of normal movement, and the flexibility of the disc and joint is preserved. With endoscopic Deuk laser disc repair there is no fusion, metal implants or biological material added to the spine. The procedure is all natural allowing your body to heal the herniated or bulging disc itself.
Recovery: Deuk Laser Disc Repair offers several advantages over traditional surgeries. It allows for a faster recovery time, with patients usually up and walking within the hour of the procedure. It also preserves normal movement and flexibility of the disc and joint, without the need for fusion or metal implants. Additionally, it avoids the use of powerful narcotic painkillers, reducing the risk of dependency and addiction.
Cost: Costs for Deuk Laser Disc Repair vary depending on individual needs, and a free MRI review can provide more information on the suitability and pricing of the procedure.
What it is: Laminectomy and laminotomy are used to relieve compression on the spinal cord and are commonly used to treat spinal stenosis, a condition that narrows the spinal canal.
How it works: This surgical procedure involves the surgeon making an incision on the patients back to access the problematic vertebrae. The procedure focuses on the lamina and attached ligaments, the part of the vertebrae that forms the vertebral arch in your spine found on the back (posterior) part of the bone to treat spinal stenosis. Once the surgeon has access to the vertebra, they remove the lamina and ligaments from the spine and any bone spurs or fragments that may also be pinching nerves. Unfortunately, laminectomy and laminotomy do not treat back pain or neck pain and frequently make back pain worse.
At Deuk Spine Institute, we have found a way to eliminate the need for traditional Laminectomies through the use of minimally invasive laser surgery which drastically increases success rates, eliminates complications, and decreases the amount of time patients spend in recovery.
Recovery: Recovery time can range from 2 to 6 months, and physical therapy is often recommended.
Cost: Costs vary based on individual needs. To find out if this surgery is the most appropriate for you and how much it will cost, book a free MRI review here.
What it is: Discectomy is a procedure that removes the external herniated portion of a damaged disc, relieving nerve root pressure. Discectomy does not treat back pain or neck pain, only leg pain or arm pain.
How it works: The surgeon performs this by entering the patient's back and making holes in the bones and ligaments of the spine to get to the herniation. The surgeon cuts through the tissues around the vertebra with various tools and removes bone, ligament and eventually only part of the herniated component of the disc. Surgeons are limited on how much of the herniation they can remove by how much they can see and since it is impossible to see all the herniation in a discectomy, they end up removing very little of the herniation. This is the main reason this procedure does not work well and it is not performed at Deuk Spine Institute.
Recovery: The recovery time depends on the underlying disease treated, how they manage their recovery, and general health. Generally speaking, most patients are mobile within a day and can expect to return to work within 2 to 4 weeks if their job doesn't involve any physically demanding tasks.
Cost: Costs vary based on individual needs. To find out if this surgery is the most appropriate for you and how much it will cost, book a free MRI review here.
What it is: A microdiscectomy is an open back surgery performed on patients suffering from a herniated lumbar disc. The surgery typically involves removing the herniated material causing the pain. A herniated lumbar disc can cause a wide range of painful symptoms and is one of the leading causes of sciatica, a condition referring to the pain felt along the sciatic nerve. For this reason, microdiscectomy procedures are commonly performed on patients suffering from sciatica.
How it works: A microdiscectomy procedure is very similar to a discectomy surgery. However, it uses a microscope and a 2-3 inch skin incision. A microdiscectomy is a surgical procedure that removes disc material that has spilled out and places pressure on nearby nerve roots. The surgeon creates a 2-3 inch incision on the patient's back above the ruptured disc area during the treatment. The surgeon next removes bone and ligaments from the spine to gain access to the hernia after cutting the muscle away from the spine. This method is typically used for those who have sciatica, a disorder caused by compression of the spinal nerves. This procedure doesn’t not treat back pain and frequently makes back pain worse. Many patients that have microdiscectomy get their symptoms back usually within a year or two and they require additional surgeries to correct the damage caused by the original microdiscectomy.
When patients experience leg weakness or numbness due to a herniated disc exerting pressure on the spinal nerve, some surgeons who lack the expertise in Deuk Laser Disc Repair often recommend this invasive method. This approach involves removing normal spine bone, ligaments, and joints to access the herniated disc. Unfortunately, it frequently leads to instability and necessitates subsequent surgeries to address the damage caused during the initial procedure. Moreover, since this surgery is typically performed using a microscope at a hospital, there is an elevated risk of infection. Microdiscectomy, as it is called, entails the surgeon damaging the patient's muscles, bones, spinal ligaments, and spinal joints while attempting to extract a small portion of the herniated disc. Given the common occurrence of complications and the need for highly addictive opioid painkillers during the recovery process, as well as the likelihood of requiring additional surgeries, the Deuk Spine Institute no longer performs this procedure
Recovery: The recovery time depends on a number of factors such as the underlying issues, the overall health of the patient and how they manage their recovery. The typical time for a full recovery is approximately six weeks. That is, after six weeks, most patients can resume exercising and lifting heavy items.
Cost: Costs vary based on individual needs. To find out if this surgery is the most appropriate for you and how much it will cost, book a free MRI review here.
What it is: Endoscopic spine surgery, by definition, is a surgical procedure that uses micro-sized incisions (usually less than 1 inch) and small tubular systems, and an endoscope to visualize the surgical area/field.
The endoscope is a small camera inserted into the spine through the incision. The endoscope allows the surgeon to see inside the spine and make any necessary repairs.
How it works: Endoscopic spine surgery is referred to as a type of minimally invasive surgery that is done using an endoscope. An endoscope is a 7mm tube equipped with a high-resolution camera lens and a light source.
During endoscopic spine surgery, the surgeon makes an 8mm incision and carefully separates the muscles to provide a small pathway for the endoscope to get to the spine. The images from the endoscopic camera are projected onto a monitor, which allows the surgeon to visualize the anatomy and pathology.
Once the images are projected, instruments are inserted through the channel to remove any problematic bone spurs, herniated discs, or thickened ligaments. After completing the procedure, the instruments are removed, and the surgeon closes the incision with sutures.
An example of an endoscopic image during spine surgery to remove a herniated disc.
Recovery: Endoscopic spine surgery recovery time is typically shorter than traditional open spine surgery. Most people can return to their normal activities within a few days or weeks.
Cost: Costs vary based on individual needs. To find out if this surgery is the most appropriate for you and how much it will cost, book a free MRI review here.
What it is: Artificial disc replacement surgery, also known as total disc replacement, is an alternative to spinal fusion and a modern approach to treating back and neck pain caused by degenerative disc disease in the lumbar or cervical spine. This procedure involves the removal of a damaged or painful disc and replacing it with an artificial device that replicates the natural function and movement of the disc. These artificial discs allow for spinal mobility and protect the vertebrae from friction.
How it works: Under general anesthesia, the surgery for artificial disc replacement typically lasts around 2 to 3 hours, depending on the number of discs to be replaced. This procedure is primarily recommended for patients experiencing issues with a single disc in the lower back. To begin the surgery, the surgeon will enter the abdomen through an incision.
During the surgery, a breathing tube is placed, and the patient breathes with the assistance of a ventilator. Surgical devices are used to remove the damaged disc, and a new artificial disc is placed into the disc space. The replaced artificial disc is typically made from plastic and metal. The surgeon will therefore proceed to close the incision after the organs and blood vessels have been replaced, and the patient will proceed to recovery. After surgery, the patient may need to stay in the hospital for about three to four days for post-operative care.
Here is a video providing detailed information on what an artificial disc replacement surgery looks like:
Recovery: Recovery can vary from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the patient. Generally, the length of time it takes to recover after an artificial disc replacement surgery entirely depends on your lifestyle and overall health
Cost: Costs vary based on individual needs. To find out if this surgery is the most appropriate for you and how much it will cost, book a free MRI review here.
What it is: Epidural steroid injections are utilized for the treatment of low back pain, neck pain, and leg pain. These injections can be administered as a standalone treatment or in combination with other pain management strategies. For individuals suffering from sciatica, a condition that leads to weakness, numbness, and tingling in the lower back and legs, epidural injections have demonstrated effectiveness as a pain management approach.
How it works: Injected steroids control spinal inflammation caused by various irritants in the spine. They inhibit the release of pain-inducing chemicals from discs, limit the production of inflammatory pain mediators, and reduce spontaneous nerve pain signals. However, the effects of these injections are typically temporary, and additional measures such as physical therapy and future injections may be necessary for long-term results.
Recovery: The recovery time can vary depending on several factors, including the individual patient and their specific condition.
Cost: Costs vary based on individual needs. To find out if this surgery is the most appropriate for you and how much it will cost, book a free MRI review here.
Here are some common non-surgical alternatives to spinal fusion:
Dr. Deuk, a renowned neurosurgeon, possesses exceptional expertise in the field of spinal health and nerves. At the Deuk Spine Institute, we specialize in various types of spine surgeries that effectively address many times of conditions such as;
At the Deuk Spine Institute, we prioritize patient care and strive to achieve exceptional outcomes for every procedure, including spinal fusions. Our track record demonstrates the lowest rates of infections and complications, as well as swift recovery times compared to other facilities specializing in spinal fusion surgeries.
Our commitment to excellence also means that we only recommend spinal fusion alternatives when it is truly necessary for a patient's specific condition. Our team of highly skilled physicians will work closely with you to identify the root cause of your pain and develop the most optimal treatment plan tailored to your needs.
We also provide a complimentary consultation for your MRI scan, allowing our team to assess your situation.
Start your journey towards effective treatment.
Submit your MRI for a comprehensive review by our dedicated professionals.
