If you’re bogged down by back pain or neck pain that conservative treatments like injections and physical therapy haven’t helped, you could be a candidate for spinal surgery. To find out your options, reach out today to Gbolahan Okubadejo, MD, FAAOS, at The Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care, a New York City-based practice with offices in Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Englewood and Jersey City, New Jersey. Dr. Okubadejo is a talented, experienced, and kind surgeon with your best interests at heart. Book your appointment today online or over the phone.
Dr. Okubadejo can perform several types of spinal surgery, including:
A discectomy removes a portion of a herniated disc from the vertebrae, the bones that make up the spine. This relieves pain caused by one of the most common results of a herniated disc, sciatica. In order to access the herniated disc, Dr. Okubadejo has to remove some or all of the back portion of the corresponding individual vertebra.
During a laminectomy, Dr. Okubadejo removes bone tissue on top of the spinal canal to widen the canal and relieve pressure on the nerves. This relieves spinal stenosis, a condition that causes the spinal canal to narrow.
During spinal fusion, Dr. Okubadejo bonds together two or more vertebrae. This creates stability after a spinal fracture. Sometimes, Dr. Okubadejo uses this surgery to cushion the space between two worn vertebrae.
Spinal surgery isn’t the first option. Instead, Dr. Okubadejo will consider spinal surgery only after you’ve exhausted more conservative treatments like physical therapy and epidural injections.
If after six weeks, you haven’t seen any improvement, spinal surgery might be a good option for you. Typically, spinal surgery is appropriate for more severe cases, like osteoarthritis or herniated discs.
Osteoarthritis, an inflammation of the cartilage, wears down the protective cartilage at the ends of your bones. Among other things, this can lead to an overgrowth of bone, or bone spurs, on your spine. Bone spurs can cause pain by pinching nerves, and they can also cause the spinal column to narrow, limiting your nerves’ pathway.
Herniated discs are ruptured or bulging spinal discs. Spinal discs provide cushioning between the vertebrae. When a disc herniates, it can pinch the spinal nerves, including the sciatic nerve. Herniated discs can cause extreme back pain and shoulder pain.
If you think you might need spinal surgery, reach out to Dr. Okubadejo at The Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care today.
