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Surgery for Bone Spurs, Arthritis, or Herniated Discs in the Neck

The Neck Pain Conundrum

At this point, if you’re searching for “surgery for bone spurs, arthritis, or herniated discs” in Google over “treatments for bone spurs, arthritis, or herniated discs,” you’ve probably gone through all the conservative, alternative, and interventional techniques for long-lasting pain relief. In the earlier stages of these conditions, conservative techniques, like ice or heat therapy, rest, and over-the-counter pain relievers, may have provided adequate pain relief. Over time, however, your condition probably worsened, calling for more advanced treatment options, such as steroid injections and radiofrequency ablation.

After a while, these pain management therapies were not enough to provide long-term pain relief. In fact, that’s why they’re called pain management therapies – they simply manage pain, not treat it. Nevertheless, you’re probably at the point now where you’re looking for a permanent solution to your neck and back pain problems. That’s why meeting with a spinal surgeon, like Dr. Mark Giovanini of NeuroMicroSpine, may come in handy.

should you consider spinal surgery for your neck pain?

Should You Consider Spinal Surgery for Your Chronic Neck Pain?

While surgery may seem like a last resort for most patients dealing with chronic pain, it’s often the most effective. In fact, you should consider spinal surgery as a relatively permanent solution to your neck or back pain problems. You may want to schedule an appointment with a spinal surgeon if you have not experienced adequate pain relief from conservative, alternative, and interventional pain therapies and if you are in good general health.

Good health typically means being a healthy weight, not smoking or chewing tobacco, and not having an underlying condition that may affect the surgery’s outcome. Nevertheless, it is still possible for patients who don’t fit this criterion, you’ll just have to discuss your health concerns with Dr. Giovanini ahead of time.

What Spinal Surgery Is Best for Bones Spurs, Arthritis, or Herniated Discs in the Neck?

It’s important to talk to Dr. Giovanini about the best possible procedure for your condition and symptoms, but simply put, an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) may be recommended or performed to mitigate these health problems.

what to expect during spinal surgery

What to Expect: Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)

The ACDF procedure removes the damaged disc or bone spur from the spinal column through the front of the neck. Once the damaged portion has been removed, Dr. Giovanini will fuse the healthy vertebrae above and below the removed spinal disc(s) together to create stability. 

This procedure is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning the patient can return home the same day. As such, this procedure is not particularly lengthy, taking less than an hour to complete once the initial and final incisions have been made. Minimally invasive spine surgeries are often preferred over traditional, open procedures because they tend to result in minimal blood loss, faster recovery times, and minimal pain and discomfort compared to traditional surgery. With faster recovery times, patients can return to normal, daily activities much quicker. 

Visit the following link for Procedure Information.

For more information on minimally invasive spine surgery or to make an appointment with Dr. Giovanini, please call (850) 934-7545 or visit https://www.neuromicrospine.com/request-appointment.

We hope to see you soon!

The advice and information contained in this article are for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.