laser spine surgery

Laser Spinal Surgery: Pros and Cons

There may come a time when a person will experience a terrible back pain that can be harmful to their future and physical well-being. However, there is hope. Laser Spinal Surgery is known as an endoscopic alternative medical procedure that tries to help alleviate some of the pain that is located on the lower and upper back and the lower and upper neck.  This spinal surgery is known as an alternative solution to the more traditional Spinal Fusion Surgeries. The orthopedic physicians who do these surgeries, will use a laser to help remove any bone spurs that the patient may have.  This will aid in the alleviation of pain to the tangled nerves within the spine and the herniated disks.  The procedure is generally undertaken when a patient experience any of the following health problems: arthritis of the spine, bone spurs, facet discs, sciatica, foraminal stenosis, pinched nerves, degenerative disc disease, bulging discs and herniated discs.

The advantages of using the Laser Spinal Surgery rather than the more traditional method is that the procedure in only performed with a local anesthetic and an IV sedation drug. To put it more plainly – the patient is completely aware and alert in regard to his surroundings, but is comfortable while the surgery is taking place. This surgery is performed with a laser (as the name suggested) however, because it is performed with a laser this means that there are no lengthy incision wounds and long hospitalizations. In fact, the moment the laser is removed from the area, the body begins the healing process.

Another advantage of doing this Surgery is time. The procedure only lasts an average range of 45-60 minutes and the recovery time is immediate. This Surgery is considered an out-patient procedure and the majority of clients who opt to do this surgery can return to their homes in a few hours. However, the best advantage to the Laser Spinal Surgery is that it does not risk injury to any other vital organs in the body. With the more traditional methods, the site of incision was through the patient’s front. These created a lot of risks to organs like the liver, stomach, kidneys, and the small or large intestines.

Nonetheless, there are great disadvantages to this new alternative to spinal surgery. Since this surgical procedure is a relatively new (created in the late 1990s), it has a multiple of risks. Many patients have experience damage to their gastrointestinal system.  Also, it is a very expensive procedure that is not covered by the majority of insurance plans. The average laser surgery is about $30,000 at the very minimum. This is a price that many of those who need the procedure cannot pay.

Laser Spinal Surgery is a good medical alternative to spinal pain problems. However, because of its price tag, the majority of people who many need it cannot afford it. Therefore, while it is a recommended procedure to do if a person is experiencing spinal problems, the costs discourage many people from undertaking it.