Treat Sciatica With Diskectomy

Diskectomy is one of the best surgical treatment options for sciatica in which the part of a cushion that protects the spinal column is removed. This cushion is the intervertebral disk i.e. particularly a flexible plate that protects both- the brain as well as the spinal cord. When a disc moves out of place, the soft gel that is present inside the disk pushes out of the walls. And then, the disk lays pressure on the spine as well as nerves in the spinal column. This surgical treatment for the removal of a fragment of spinal disc is Diskectomy.

Reason to perform Diskectomy
Diskectomy is performed when your herniated disc leads to:

* Leg pain or causes numbness
* Weakness in buttocks or lower legs muscles
* Inability to control urination as well as bowel movements

If you are going through severe pain in your bowel or bladder for a long time and no drug is able to provide you relief, it calls for a surgery. Though, before surgery, anti-inflammatory medications as well as exercise are seen as the first treatments. But, if with time, the signs of pain due to herniated disk don't go away, Diskectomy is done.

Method to perform Diskectomy
Diskectomy is generally performed after administering anesthesia to the sufferer. The whole process takes near about an hour but it may vary depending on the size of the sufferer, degree of disc herniation and many other factors. The patient is laid with his face downwards and his back pointing upwards to perform diskectomy.

The procedure of Diskectomy includes removal of the cushion of the herniated disc, in which the surgeon makes a slit in the center of the patients back. The cut is around 3 centimeters long. After incision, the surgeon dissects the muscles carefully away from the spinal bone. With some surgical instruments, the surgeon finally removes a part of ligament as well as bone from the back. This is also referred to as Laminotomy.

As soon as the ligament and the bone is removed, the surgeon protects the spinal nerves. And finally, after the disc herniation is located, the fragment is removed. Also, to avoid any herniation in future, more fragments of the disc can be removed. Finally, the disc is cleaned, the slit is closed & dressing is done.

Immediate relief after surgery should not be expected. A patient who has gone through a surgery faces various symptoms of herniated disk. To witness a detectable change, few weeks of bed rest must be taken. Patients should also limit their physical activity during this time. And, for the patient to start normal activities again, some sort of rehabilitation is also advised. Apart from this, always consult a qualified surgeon for Diskectomy.