Living with chronic back pain can be debilitating, affecting your daily life and overall wellbeing. For many individuals, a discectomy becomes a ray of hope, promising relief from persistent discomfort. A discectomy is a surgery that removes part or all of a herniated disc (also known as a slipped disc or bulging disc) in the spine. However, the journey doesn’t end with the surgery. It marks the beginning of a transformative process. In this article you will learn what happens to the disc after discectomy and provide insights into the recovery journey. 

How Discectomy Affects the Disc

Discs are cushion-like structures that sit between the vertebrae, the bones that make up the spine. A disc has two parts: the nucleus pulposus, which is the soft, gel-like center, and the annulus fibrosus, which is the tough, fibrous outer layer. Discs act as shock absorbers, allowing the spine to be flexible and resilient.

When a disc herniates, the nucleus pulposus pushes through a tear in the annulus fibrosus and compresses the nearby nerve or spinal cord. This can cause pain, inflammation, and nerve damage. A discectomy is a surgical procedure aimed at relieving pressure on the spinal nerves by removing a portion of a herniated or damaged disc. This intervention is often recommended when conservative treatments fail to provide relief and the pain becomes chronic.

The Healing Process 

The healing process after discectomy depends on several factors, such as the extent of the disc removal, the type of surgery, the age and health of the patient, and the postoperative care and rehabilitation. This process may take several weeks to months. During this time, the patient may need to wear a brace or a corset to support the spine and limit its movement. The patient may also need to take painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, or antibiotics to prevent infection. The patient may also need to undergo physical therapy, exercises, or massage to strengthen the muscles and improve the range of motion of the spine.

How the Disc Is Affected

Following the surgery, the body initiates a natural healing process. The disc space where the surgery took place undergoes a series of changes. Scar tissue forms, providing stability to the area. Over time, the body absorbs the disc material that was removed, and the surrounding tissues adapt to the new structural dynamics. 

In general, the disc does not regenerate or grow back after discectomy. The remaining disc tissue may shrink or collapse over time, creating a gap between the vertebrae. This gap may be filled by scar tissue, bone spurs, or new bone growth. The spine may also lose some of its height, flexibility, and stability.

The effects of discectomy on the disc depend on how much of the disc is removed and how the disc heals after the surgery. Some of the possible effects are:

• Decreased disc height – The disc may lose some of its height after discectomy, as the remaining disc material may collapse or shrink over time. This can affect the alignment and stability of the spine as well as the space for the nerve roots and spinal cord. Decreased disc height can also increase the stress and wear on the adjacent discs and joints, leading to degeneration or arthritis.
• Scar tissue formation – The disc may form scar tissue after discectomy as part of the natural healing process. Scar tissue is fibrous tissue that replaces the damaged or removed disc material. However, scar tissue is not as flexible or strong as the original disc material, and it may interfere with the function and movement of the spine. Scar tissue may also adhere to the nearby structures, such as the nerve root or the dura, which is the protective covering of the spinal cord. This can cause pain, stiffness, or nerve irritation.
• Reherniation – The disc may reherniate after discectomy, which means the disc material may push out again through the same or a new tear in the annulus fibrosus. This can happen for various reasons, such as incomplete removal of the disc material, trauma, degeneration, or excessive stress on the spine. Reherniation can cause recurrent or new symptoms of nerve compression, such as pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness.

Recovering and Preventing Complications 

The recovery process and the outcome for the disc after discectomy depend on several factors, such as the size, location, and severity of the herniation, the age, health, and lifestyle of the person, the type and effectiveness of the surgery, and the compliance and participation of the person in the recovery process.

Some of the tips to recover and prevent complications after discectomy are:

• Follow the postoperative instructions given by your surgeon and medical team, such as how to care for your wound, prevent infection, and manage your pain.
• Avoid activities that may worsen your symptoms or cause further injury, such as lifting, bending, or twisting your spine. Follow the guidelines on when to resume your normal activities, such as walking, driving, working, or exercising.
• Participate in physical therapy as prescribed by your surgeon or physical therapist. Physical therapy can help you improve your posture, flexibility, and muscle strength as well as prevent scar tissue formation and reherniation.
• Maintain a healthy weight, as obesity can increase the pressure and stress on the spine and discs. Eat a balanced diet rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to promote healing and prevent inflammation.
• Quit smoking, as smoking can impair blood circulation, delay healing, and increase the risk of infection and reherniation. Smoking can also accelerate disc degeneration and reduce the effectiveness of surgery.
• Seek medical attention if you experience any signs of complications, such as fever, redness, swelling, or drainage from the wound, increased or persistent pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected nerve, or difficulty urinating or controlling your bowel movements.

In the journey of life after discectomy, the road to recovery is marked by resilience, commitment, and a partnership between patients and their healthcare providers. Understanding the disc’s healing process, engaging in physical therapy, making lifestyle adjustments, and maintaining regular follow-up visits with your doctor contribute to a successful recovery. 

Whether a patient has a traditional discectomy, a less invasive microdiscectomy, or spinal fusion surgery, recovery time, pain levels, and other post-surgery issues vary among individuals. 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 today.

For full benefit/risk information, please visit: https://www.barricaid.com/instructions.