A microdiscectomy is a common spine procedure often done to ease nerve pressure caused by a herniated disc, also often referred to as a “slipped” or “bulging” disc. For most patients, a microdiscectomy is a procedure that's only done once, and it is often successful. However, there are situations when patients may need to have a second microdiscectomy, but not necessarily on the same disc.
Disc Herniation Recurrence
One reason you might need a second microdiscectomy is if the same disc becomes herniated again. Reherniation isn't excessively common, but it sometimes occurs. This can happen shortly after the initial microdiscectomy recovery period or even several months or years after the first surgery. Potential causes of disc reherniation that requires another microdiscectomy include:
• Not enough disc material was removed during the first surgery
- A large hole was left in the disc due to injury or surgical access
• The remaining portion of the disc shifts position
• Certain motions or movements affect the disc over time
• Other changes occur within the spine that cause the disc to shift
Issues with Other Discs
You might need to have another microdiscectomy if a different spinal disc becomes herniated or damaged in some other way. This can happen if a disc that was previously stable becomes herniated enough to affect a nerve that's close to the spine. As is the case with reherniation, there are a number of factors that can cause a different spinal disc to become herniated, including:
• Age-related issues that often affect spinal discs
• Excess wear and degeneration
• An injury that affects another spinal disc
Conservative Treatment Instead of a Second Microdiscectomy
Each instance of disc-related pain is treated individually, so depending on the nature of your symptoms, your doctor may recommend other treatments first before advising you to have a second microdiscectomy. If your discomfort isn't severe, you may experience relief with:
• Physical therapy
• A customized stretching and exercise routine
• Adjustments to your posture, diet, and exercise habits
• Injections directly into the affected area to improve results with physical therapy
• Chiropractic adjustments
What to Expect with a Second Microdiscectomy
According to Spine Health, a revision microdiscectomy is typically as successful as the first procedure if a doctor deems it necessary. However, if your spine isn't stable after the second microdiscectomy, your doctor may recommend spinal fusion surgery as a secondary procedure to minimize movement within the affected area and stabilize the spine.
Reducing the Risk of Needing a Second Microdiscectomy
As long as you follow your doctor's instructions after your initial surgery, it's not likely you will need another microdiscectomy. Still, there are no guarantees a second surgery won't be a possibility later on if the spine continues to degenerate. However, you can take some steps to reduce your risk of needing a microdiscectomy again by:
• Eating nutrient-rich foods that keep your spinal discs and spine healthy
• Watching your posture
• Avoiding overly strenuous movements and activities
• Discussing any new disc or spine pain with your doctor
Although discectomy surgery is generally a very successful procedure, a hole is left in the outer wall of the disc. Patients with a large hole in the outer ring of the disc are more than twice as likely to reherniate after surgery. A new treatment, Barricaid, which is a bone-anchored device proven to reduce the likelihood of a reherniation, was specifically designed to close the large hole often left in the spinal disc after microdiscectomy. In a large-scale study, 95 percent of Barricaid patients didn’t undergo a reoperation due to reherniation in the 2-year study timeframe. This treatment is done immediately following the discectomy—during the same operation—and doesn’t require any additional incisions or time in the hospital.
If you have any questions about the Barricaid treatment or how to get access to Barricaid, ask your doctor or contact us at 844-288-7474.
For full benefit/risk information, please visit: https://www.barricaid.com/instructions.
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