For some patients, results from a discectomy or a less invasive microdiscectomy last indefinitely. Others may experience renewed discomfort several months or even years after surgery, which may be a sign of reherniation of the same spinal disc. This article takes a closer look at how long results from a discectomy typically last and what you can do to get the most from spinal disc surgery if other treatments are not effective.
What Is Considered a Successful Discectomy?
Typically, a discectomy is considered a success if a patient’s back and leg pain go away and the individual is able to go about his or her daily routine with little or no discomfort. For many individuals, results of this nature tend to last for several years.
What Is Considered Average?
In a study referenced by Spine Health, nearly 85 percent of participants were still satisfied with their results following their discectomies. In fact, this group of discectomy patients rated their results as "good" or "excellent" at the four-year point. This was a relatively large study, so it is reflective of what is typical for discectomy patients.
Why Should I Watch Out for Reherniation?
There is a risk of reherniation occurring after having discectomy surgery. In some instances, this happens because not enough disc material was removed during the initial surgery. You are more likely to reherniate a disc if you do not follow post-surgery instructions or guidelines. Additionally, you could also be at risk for reherniation if you have a strenuous occupation or you push yourself too hard. There is also the possibility of reinjury if you engage in too much strenuous physical activity post-surgery, which could also reduce your odds of enjoying long-term relief.
How Can I Maintain Results from a Discectomy?
There are some steps you can take to increase your odds of enjoying long-term results after having spinal disc surgery. Start by getting regular exercise to maintain your weight and keep your spine-supporting muscles strong. Additional steps you can take to extend the results from your discectomy include:
• Improving your posture while sitting, standing, and sleeping
• Getting a good night's sleep on a comfortable and supportive mattress
• Eating tomatoes and other foods that naturally ease inflammation
• Avoiding things that put too much stress on your spine, such as improperly lifting heavy items
Check in with your doctor on a regular basis to make sure you are still on track with your discectomy recovery. Also, report any new or unusual post-surgery symptoms to your doctor sooner rather than later. Additionally, increase your odds of enjoying long-term results after a discectomy by:
• Using spine-supporting cushions or belts if you sit for long periods or have a job that involves bending, reaching, or stretching
• Not sitting for long periods
• Using a spine-friendly chair that maintains proper alignment
• Not wearing excessively high heels or other shoes that do not provide sufficient support, since being off-balance can affect your spine and its supporting discs
In addition to the length of pain relief, pain levels and back surgery recovery time vary among individuals and depend on factors such as disc height and the size of the hole left in the outer ring of the disc after surgery. If the hole in the disc is larger than a standard pencil eraser, the patient has a significant risk of reherniation. Patients with a large hole in the outer ring of the disc are more than twice as likely to reherniate after surgery. These reherniations often require additional surgery or even a larger spinal fusion operation. Barricaid is a bone-anchored device shown to reduce reherniations by closing the hole in the disc after a discectomy, and 95 percent of Barricaid patients did not undergo a reoperation due to reherniation in a 2-year study timeframe. This treatment is done immediately following the discectomy—during the same operation—and does not 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, you may 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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