Most among those affected by herniated disc do not need surgery as their symptoms tend to improve with time. About 50% of people with a herniated disc in the low back make a recovery within 1 month. 96% recover in a period of 6 months. Just a small group of 10% of people with herniated disc problems have enough pain after 6 weeks to consider surgery.
 
If surgery is used to for herniated disc treatment, it is done to decrease pain and allow for more normal movement and function. Surgery is considered if only the patient have a history of persistent leg pain that has not gotten better with non surgical treatment, as well as weakness and limitation of daily activities.

Surgery can also be opted if the results of a physical examination find that you currently have weakness, loss of motion, abnormal sensitivity, or a positive straight leg test.
 
Diagnostic testing, like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography, or myelogram, shows that the patient has a herniated disc that requires surgery.

Surgery is recommended to those patients who have specific symptoms and conditions. A decision to undergo surgery must be taken into consideration only after the results from diagnostic tests and physical examinations. The patient’s response to non surgical treatment, and discussions between him and his health professional about expected results will decide the requirement of a surgery. Among other factors that state the requirement of a surgery include age, overall health, the severity of symptoms, and the impact the symptoms have on the life.  If the patient is an older adult, then he may be offered surgery if his herniated disc is less likely to improve without surgery because of other spinal diseases.

Disc surgery is not an effective treatment for low back pain that is not caused by a herniated disc. It is not done if back pain is the only symptom the herniated disc causes.

Bookmark It

 Del.icio.us    digg  
 Facebook    Google Bookmarks    Stumble It    Technorati    Yahoo! My Web  
Hide Sites Tags: surgery, symptom, back pain, Herniated Disc Surgery, weakness, diagnostics, myelogram, computed tomography, patient