When Surgery is required for Neck Pain ?
Neck pain is one of the common problems that many people suffer. In most cases, neck pain can be temporary and it can be treated easily using non-surgical methods. Surgery is considered as the last choice of treatment for neck pain if other treatments do not help. Both surgical and non-surgical treatment methods focus on reducing your neck pain and improving the movement.
Common Non-Surgical Treatments for Neck Pain
When you have neck pain, the doctor will suggest one or more of the following non-surgical treatments:
- Over-the-counter medications to reduce pain and discomfort
- Neck exercises and physical therapy to relieve pain and improve the movement
- Heat therapy
- Ice therapy
- Physiotherapy
- A soft neck collar to provide support to your neck
When Do I Need Surgery for Neck Pain?
Each case is different and it is difficult to say when surgery is required for neck pain. However, your doctor may suggest undergoing surgery in the following cases:
- Non-surgical methods do not help: If non-conservative treatments do not help you and if your neck pain still persists and is affecting your daily life, then surgery may be a choice.
- A pinched nerve: A pinched nerve can cause more pressure on only one side of the neck. This causes severe neck pain, and numbness along the nerve path. Surgery is required to eliminate the pressure on the nerves.
- Cervical myelopathy: This condition occurs due to the compression of the spinal cord. If it is not treated on time, this can lead to severe nerve damage.
- Broken neck: It is the fracture of one of the cervical vertebrae in the neck. This causes severe pain, and swelling. It is a serious condition and requires immediate medical assistance.
- Spinal stenosis: It is the narrowing of the spinal cord. This can lead to signs such as neck pain, back pain, etc. Surgery is required to reduce pressure on the spinal cord.
Different Types of Surgery for Neck Pain
There are different types of neck surgeries. The doctor will determine the right one for you based on the cause of your condition, your choices, etc. The following are some of the common neck surgeries:
- Anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF): ACDF surgery is the common surgery for neck pain. This surgery is used to treat a pinched nerve. Surgery involves the removal of the disc in the spine that is causing the pressure. Once the disc is removed, a spinal fusion will be performed to provide stability at the site of the removed disc.
- Anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF): It is similar to ACDF surgery. But ACCF involves the removal of some part of the front area of the vertebrae along with the vertebrae that cause pressure. After the removal, the space will be filled with a bone spur and are fused together. It is the best option if bone spurs cannot be removed with ACDF surgery.
- Cervical artificial disc replacement (ADR): In this surgery, the damaged disc is removed and is replaced with an artificial disc, instead of performing a fusion.
- Laminectomy: Laminectomy focuses on reducing the pressure on the spinal cord. The procedure is performed from the back of the neck and removes the lamina.
- Laminoplasty: It is similar to laminectomy but it does not remove lamina. It is also used to reduce pressure on the spinal cord and related nerves. Instead of removing the lamina, the surgeon cuts the lamina to create a door and make more space for the spinal cord.
- Posterior cervical laminoforaminotomy: This surgery is performed from the back of the neck and is used to treat a pinched nerve. It involves removing the part of the foramen that causes neck pain. It does not require a spinal fusion and hence retains the flexibility in the neck.
Suffering From Neck Pain? Meet Dr Vishwak Sena Reddy Today
If you are suffering from neck pain and looking for ways to get rid of it, meet Dr Vishwak Sena Reddy today. He has been helping patients suffering from neck pain for over 12 years in Hyderabad. He first focuses on treating your problem using non-invasive methods. If non-invasive treatments do not help, then he will consider performing surgery. He makes use of latest in the technology and effective staff to ensure the safety of his patients. If you are willing to discuss your issue with Dr Vishwak Sena Reddy, give us a call and we will schedule your initial consultation.