Millions of people suffer from back pain. The good news is that occasional back pain is not a cause for concern. However, chronic back pain that makes day-to-day life difficult, or impossible, needs the expertise of a spine specialist. Fortunately, many common causes of back pain, including a disc herniation, a bulging disc in your lumbar spine, and sciatica, may respond well to minimally invasive treatment from laser spine specialist Dr. Alen Nourian, MD.
What is Laser Spine Surgery?
Laser spine surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery used to correct common spinal conditions. Instead of traditionally long incision, tiny incisions are made, allowing Dr. Nourian access to the specific area of the spine that needs to be treated. Using a laser to remove tissue that is pressing on a nerve, laser spine surgery may even be performed in an outpatient setting.
Common Conditions Treated with Laser Spine Surgery
Several common conditions respond well to minimally invasive spinal procedures performed by Dr. Alen Nourian, MD. These common conditions include:
- Disc Herniation
A herniated disc is a disc that has been pushed out of proper position, and the nucleus of the disc is leaking into the spinal space surrounding it. This can cause inflammation, irritation, and severe back pain. Laser spine surgery is often used to reduce the compression on nerves, which is responsible for your pain.
- Lumbar Disc Bulge
A bulging disc is like a herniated disc in that the disc has been moved out of proper alignment. However, in a bulging disc, there is no leakage from the disc seeping into the spinal cord space. A bulging disc in your lumbar spine (lower spine) leads to compressed or pinched nerves, resulting in pain. Laser surgery can be an effective treatment for a bulging lumbar disc.
- Sciatica
Sciatica is quite common, and results from pressure on the sciatic nerve. This leads to radiating numbness or tingling through the buttocks and down the length of the leg. Laser spine surgery is one treatment option for alleviating pain caused by sciatica.
How long is recovery from laser spine surgery?
All people respond differently to medical procedures and the same is true of those who undergo laser spine surgery. However, unlike a traditional surgery, you’ll be able to recover at home, without remaining in the hospitals. In the days following your laser spine surgery some individuals will be able to return to normal or modified activity quite quickly. Others may need more time before a return to normal activity.
Because the incisions for a laser spine surgery are small, they will heal faster than a large incision site. They will be also less likely to become infected or leave significant scarring.
Schedule an appointment today with Laser Spine Specialist Dr. Alen Nourian, MD
Dr. Nourian is a renowned orthopedic surgeon and neck and spine surgeon, who graduated at the top of his class at UCLA and received top honors in his medical school class at USC Keck School of Medicine. He completed his spine surgery fellowship at the San Diego Center of Spinal Disorder, and today has offices in Moorpark, Encino, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks, West Covina and Rancho Cucamonga. He is a national and international lecturer and researcher. His papers and research have been published in numerous journals and books.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Alen Nourian, MD call 805-416-1777 today.