1. Prolapsed Disc Surgery

2. If you suffer from a prolapsed disc, surgery may
seem like your only option to overcome your
chronic neck or back pain once and for all.
However, while you may be eager to schedule a
procedure to treat your pain, it is important to
make sure that you first fully understand the cause
of your condition and have explored all of your
available nonsurgical treatments. You may be
surprised to learn that the vast majority of people
who suffer from symptoms of disc problems can
usually effectively manage their symptoms with a
series of noninvasive methods.

3. What is a Prolapsed Disc?
In the spine, adjacent vertebrae are cushioned and separated by thick spongy
pads that are known as intervertebral discs. These discs are important
because they are both highly flexible and extremely durable, which helps
provide for the regular movement that we require from our neck and back
and also supports a tremendous amount of body weight.
Each disc is primarily composed of two main parts, a tough outer shell known
as the annulus fibrosus, and a gel-like center, which is called the nucleus
pulposus. A prolapsed disc refers to an intervertebral disc where a rupture
has developed in the annulus fibrosus, allowing the nucleus pulposus to
escape the disc and seep into the spinal column. This condition is also
sometimes known as a herniated disc or colloquially as a slipped disc.
Yet, simply having a prolapsed disc doesn’t mean surgery is the only option. In
fact, many people experience this condition without ever knowing it.

4. Symptoms from a Prolapsed Disc
One of the interesting things about having a ruptured disc is that this
condition isn’t inherently symptomatic. In most cases, when a patient
experiences pain or discomfort from a prolapsed disc, it is because the
extruded disc material has come into contact with the spinal cord or a
nerve root in the spinal column and caused the nerve to become
constricted or irritated. As a result, the goal of prolapsed disc surgery
and other treatments is usually to alleviate this constriction.
A number of unique symptoms can be associated with this
condition, depending on the cause, location, and severity of the
problem. The most common symptoms include localized neck pain or
back pain, traveling pain along a nerve, numbness and tingling in the
extremities, and other similar symptoms.

5. Treatment
If you’ve been diagnosed with a prolapsed
disc, surgery is rarely the first option. More
often, a regimen of conservative, noninvasive
treatments will first be attempted as a means of
alleviating strain on the neck or back and
reducing pain. These treatments tend to include:
• Low-impact exercise
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Hot/cold therapy
• Diet
• Limited rest
• Massage
• And more
However, if several weeks or months of this type
of treatment fails to provide sufficient
relief, other options may be considered.

6. Considering Prolapsed Disc Surgery
Prolapsed disc surgery can be approached in several different ways depending
on the extent of the problem, the cause and location of the prolapsed
disc, and your overall health. Traditionally, the use of an open spine
surgery, such as spinal fusion, has been recommended as a means of
permanently immobilizing the spine at the vertebral level by removing the
affected intervertebral disc and fusing adjacent vertebrae together.
Alternatively, recent advancements in endoscopic technology have given rise
to minimally invasive alternatives that can sometimes treat the symptoms of
a prolapsed disc without the lengthy hospital stay and arduous recovery
process that is associated with open spine surgery. To learn about the specific
options that are available to you, take the time to research all of your options
and speak with several doctors in your area. The last thing you want to do is
consent to a surgery that you don’t need when a less invasive option is at
your disposal.