Pain in your back, your arms, your legs, or other parts of your body can make everyday tasks such as taking out the trash or playing with your kids more difficult, and it can reduce your productivity at work. Pain can also keep you from relaxing or getting a healthy amount of sleep every night. If your chronic pain doesn’t respond to other treatments, surgery is often the best option. There are pain management specialists in Memphis, TN at MidSouth Pain Treatment Center who can help you find relief with a minimally invasive spine procedure.
In traditional spinal surgery, a surgeon makes an incision several inches long. Then, he or she moves muscles in the back to view and access the spine. There are several types of minimally invasive spinal surgery (MISS) available. These procedures use smaller incisions, and they lead to less muscle damage.
Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery Techniques for Pain Management in Memphis, TN
Here are some of the most popular minimally invasive spine surgery techniques and their benefits.
Tubular Retractor
A tubular retractor is a metal tube that’s often attached to a robotic arm for precise control. It holds the muscles around the spine, similar to the retractor used in standard spinal surgeries, and it’s inserted into the back through a small incision. Then, the surgeon expands the tube, holding the muscles open to place screws or rods, remove diseased tissue, or perform other procedures. Any instruments used are small enough to fit through the tube easily.
Many surgeons look at the spine and the rest of the back with an endoscope or fluoroscopy, a method that displays real-time x-ray images. Tubular retractors are often used to correct problems that are focused in a small area. The technique was first developed to treat lumbar disc herniations, ruptured or slipped discs, in the lower back.
Using a tubular retractor can also help surgeons treat:
- Spinal stenosis: a narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses the spinal cord or nerve roots
- Spondylodiscitis: an inflammation or infection of one or more vertebrae or discs
- Lumbar instability: weakened or injured muscles near the lower back
- Tumors near the spine
A tubular retractor can help with many other conditions, including neck and upper back issues. The small tunnel that it creates when it expands injures the muscles less than many types of spinal surgery. It prevents extensive scarring and reduces the risk of infection considerably. It can also keep cerebrospinal fluid from accumulating in and around a large surgical site as well as minimize bleeding.
Many people won’t need to spend much time recovering in the hospital. With some of the pain management procedures we’ve seen at our Memphis, TN clinics, patients were able to go back to work after just a few days. That way, you can keep your medical expenses under control, recover quickly, and start enjoying your life without frustrating or debilitating pain.
Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty treats compression fractures in the spine caused by osteoporosis, cancer, or injuries. In a compression fracture, part or all of a vertebra collapses. Bone fragments rubbing against each other cause pain, and moving in some directions can be difficult. People could also have trouble sitting or standing with a normal posture.
During a kyphoplasty surgical procedure, also called a balloon vertebroplasty, the patient is placed under local or general anesthesia. Then, the surgeon inserts a needle called a trocar through the skin into the vertebra. He or she uses it to inject and inflate a balloon to help restore the vertebra to its original shape. Bone cement helps the space that the balloon creates keep its shape, and the balloon is removed when the procedure is complete. Like surgeries with tubular retractors, kyphoplasties often use fluoroscopy.
The procedure only takes about an hour for one vertebra and no hospital stay is needed in most cases. The needle is so small that you won’t need stitches and you’ll be able to walk when the anesthesia wears off. You will likely feel sore for a few days, but an ice pack will help. Most patients experience substantial pain relief from a kyphoplasty within 48 hours. Kyphoplasties work best for fractures less than two months old. They can relieve pain, improve movement, and even restore height and posture. It’s one of the many great pain management options you can find in Memphis, TN.
HF10 Therapy
HF10 therapy is a type of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) treatment for chronic back and leg pain. It uses an implant to transmit small amounts of electricity to the spinal cord, reducing or blocking pain. HF10 stands for spinal cord stimulation delivered at 10 kilohertz. An implant transmits small amounts of electricity to the spinal cord to reduce or block pain. You can try a temporary system before you decide if HF10 is the right pain management solution for you, and the implant surgery done in our Memphis, TN surgery centers is quick and easy. Like other minimally invasive spine surgeries, it usually doesn’t require a hospital stay.
In a study, recipients of HF10 experienced back or leg pain reduction without paresthesia almost twice as often as with traditional SCS treatments. Paresthesia is an uncomfortable tingling, buzzing, or vibrating sensation, and HF10 therapy avoids it by using a higher frequency than other SCS treatments.
With HF10 therapy, patients can also avoid unexpected shocks after bending, twisting, or making other movements. This means that it can stay on while people drive or sleep. It comes with a remote control device, and it can be used with medication.
Next Steps: Finding a Pain Management Solution in Memphis, TN
Before and after minimally invasive spinal surgery, you should take care of yourself and keep your entire body healthy. Stay as active as possible without causing additional pain, and stretch before you exercise or do yard work. Use proper posture, wear comfortable shoes, and make sure that your desk chair at work is ergonomically correct. The pain management experts at Midsouth Pain Treatment Center in Memphis, TN can help you decide on the best procedure to get rid of your pain. That way, you can start having fun again with your family and friends without worrying about how your back pain affects what you can do.
Visit Midsouth Pain Treatment Center for help with chronic pain. You can choose from several locally owned and operated locations in Mississippi and Tennessee. The clinic in Cordova is only about half an hour away from downtown Memphis. No matter how long you’ve been suffering, you can get a diagnosis as well as treatment for the issue causing your pain, and ultimately, relief.
