Many patients respond well to lumbar discectomy surgery. In fact, spinal disc surgery generally has a fairly high success rate. This is certainly good news if you will be having this particular procedure in the near future. However, there are some potential complications to consider as you move forward with plans to enjoy relief from lower back pain caused by a herniated disc. This article outlines some of the potential side effects of a lumbar discectomy.
Symptoms that Continue Post-Surgery
It is not unusual to experience some degree of discomfort immediately after surgery. This happens as tissues heal and the spine's muscles regain strength and flexibility. However, if the same symptoms you experienced prior to surgery are still present for several weeks or months after surgery, you may have some side effects associated with your lumbar discectomy.
Scar Tissue around Spinal Nerves
In some instances, scar tissue forms around nerves near the affected disc, and surgeons often make efforts to retain as much of the spinal disc as possible. If you do develop scar tissue, you may notice ongoing discomfort beyond what is typically considered normal.
Unless the resulting discomfort is severe, there is no cure for scar tissue that forms around nerves. However, you can reduce your risk of experiencing this symptom in the first place by being mindful of your physical therapy exercises and exercising as much as possible as you heal and recover.
Infection Near the Surgical Site
Infections are a potential issue with any type of spine surgery. An infection can develop around the spinal disc area or around the surgical site itself. Minimize this potential side effect by following your doctor's instructions for properly caring for the incision post-surgery. The risk of internal infections is higher for patients with diabetes or similar chronic health issues that could affect circulation and healing.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
This is a potentially serious side effect in which a piece of a blood clot breaks off and makes its way to the lungs. If this happens, it is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment. Reduce the risk of this side effect by making an effort to get up and move around as much as possible post-surgery. It can also be helpful to wear compression stockings to reduce the risk of circulation issues that often contribute to blood clots.
Addressing Side Effects
If you are noticing signs suggesting you may have lumbar discectomy side effects, start by talking to your doctor or spine surgeon. Be as precise as possible when describing your symptoms. If your doctor needs to determine if your disc has reherniated, an MRI scan may be performed. This also applies if there is the possibility of complications, such as remaining disc material still irritating a nearby nerve. Treatment for any side effects related to a lumbar spinal disc procedure may include:
• Physical therapy
• Treatment for a surgical site infection
• Secondary surgery to correct issues discovered by image testing
• Medication to manage your discomfort combined with physical therapy
Even though discectomy surgery is a common and generally quite successful procedure, a hole is frequently left in the outer wall of the disc. In fact, patients with these large holes in their discs are more than twice as likely to reinjure themselves by having what is known as a reherniation. These reherniations often require additional surgery or even fusions. Fortunately, there is a new treatment specifically designed to close the large holes that are often left in spinal discs after discectomy surgery. Barricaid is a bone-anchored device proven to reduce reherniations, 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, ask your doctor or contact us at 844-288-7474.
For full benefit/risk information, please visit: https://www.barricaid.com/instructions.