Spine surgery is not ‘one- size- fits- all’
Dr. George Al Shamy is a neurosurgeon atMischer Neuroscience Center at Memorial Hermann TheWoodlands Medical Center who specializes in complex spine and cranial procedures.
Several spine disorders can be treated with surgery. However, not every spine issue receives the same surgery or needs a surgical operation to be treated.
Dr. GeorgeAl Shamy, a neurosurgeon specializing in complex spine procedures, discusses why treating spine pain is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Q:What are the most common types of spine surgeries and procedures you see?
A:There are a variety of reasons patients explore spine surgery as a treatment option. However, the most common symptoms patients experience are neurological compromise, weakness or numbness in arms or legs, or severe and persistent back pain and neck pain. We divide these problems into different conditional categories to determine the best procedure. Categories include degenerative disc disease, tumors or cancers of the spine, spinal deformities and spinal injuries caused by trauma.
Q:How do you determine when spine surgery is the best option?
A:Typically, an operation on your spine shouldn’t be the first solution, unless you’re having neurological issues. You can normally treat acute issues like tweaking your neck or back with rest, overthe-counter medications or physical therapy. When you start experiencing tingling in your arms or legs, weakness, difficulty with movements or pain that has progressed over time, it may be time to see a neurosurgeon. You should talk with your doctor about trying more conservative methods first. Then, if the issues continue, consider visiting a neurosurgeon to figure out the best path forward and whether surgery is the right option for you.
Q:What is the recovery period like?
A: Recovery time from a spinal procedure can vary depending on the type of operation. You want to give your spine enough time to recover fromthe surgery, but you also don’t want to spend months with no movement at all. After patients recover fromsurgery, they usually see a physical therapist to help them move and adjust. For smaller surgeries, recovery time is typically two to six weeks on average, while larger operations can take six weeks to three months, depending on the surgery performed.
Q:What is minimally invasive spine surgery?
A:Minimally invasive spine surgery is a fairly new technology in neurosurgery. It uses muscle-sparing techniques and small incisions to gain access to and decompress the spine through a small tube and endoscope. This technique reduces blood loss and muscle retraction. It also helps with recovery time and post-operative pain. In fact, many of the same surgical procedures performed in open spine surgery can be done with a minimally invasive procedure.
It’s important to know that like open spine surgery, patients should only receive a minimally invasive procedure if it’s the best option to treat their issue. It’s also vital to see a surgeon who can perform both open and minimally invasive spine surgery with the same results. At Memorial Hermann, we offer a variety of different approaches and technologies to treat spinal issues, including minimally invasive surgery.
Memorial Hermann has spine centers throughout greater Houston. Visit spine.memorialhermann. org to schedule your appointment and learn more about spine conditions and treatments.