Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeons in Allentown, PA

Back and neck pain may get to a point where you can’t work or do activities you used to enjoy. It can erode your quality of life and mental well-being. Knowing what spinal conditions that minimally invasive surgery can help when other treatment methods fail can provide comfort and help alleviate your pain.  

Many conditions can cause back pain. Your spine surgeon at NJ Spine & Orthopedic can assess your medical records to help diagnose your spinal condition. We can also advise you on the best treatment for your specific circumstances. If pain management and other treatments fail to resolve your back or neck pain, you may be a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery in Allentown, PA.

What Spinal Conditions Cause Back Pain?

There are three segments of the spine. If you feel neck pain, the problem is often with the cervical spine, while lower back pain indicates an issue in the lumbar spine. The segment of the spine between the cervical and lumbar is the thoracic. Each segment consists of bones, joints, discs, and nerves that can cause back pain and limited mobility when presented with these conditions:  

• Spinal stenosis
• Herniated, bulging, slipped, ruptured, or torn discs
• Facet joint disease
• Spinal bone spurs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spondylolisthesis
• Osteoarthritis
• Pinched nerve
• Spinal tumor

For example, spinal bone spurs or tumors can grow and project out into the limited space surrounding the spine aggravating the nerves that occupy that space. When discs become herniated, the same condition can occur. The spinal column can narrow with time, or bones and discs can slip out of place, inflaming nearby nerves.

These conditions may require minimally invasive spinal surgery in Allentown, PA to help fix.

Treatments Available for Back Pain

There are several methods by which your back pain can be relieved. When you talk to your spine doctor about your back pain, they will suggest different treatment plans depending on the diagnosis and your specific circumstances. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help alleviate pain. 

If NSAIDs don’t alleviate your back pain, epidural steroid or cortisone injections may be recommended. Steroidal medication is injected into an area in your spine or surrounding areas causing pain. These injections temporarily lessen the inflammation that your condition is causing. While the inflammation is reduced, so is the pain. Depending on the steroid used, the injections can provide short-term or long-term relief from pain.

Minimally invasive spine surgery in Allentown is generally the last resort when all other treatments fail to relieve your back or neck pain. Depending on your specific circumstances, some surgeries can be done within an hour and as an outpatient procedure, meaning you’ll be able to go home the same day. And with minimally invasive surgery, recovery times are less painful, so you can return to work or enjoy activities sooner rather than later.   

How is Minimally Invasive Surgery Performed?

When a surgeon performs minimally invasive surgery, they start with a very tiny incision. They will insert a tube into this small incision. This tube allows the surgeon to insert an endoscopy, a high-tech tool with an HD camera attached and specialized surgical instruments. 

If a herniated disc needs to be resolved, the surgeon will perform a discectomy or disc replacement surgery. With the endoscope and instruments inserted into the tiny incision, the surgeon will remove a portion of the disc’s inner core protruding from the exterior shell, or if the disc is extensively damaged, they will replace the disc with an artificial one.

For other conditions, the surgeon can use minimally invasive surgery to remove bone spurs and tumors that may be causing your back pain. The surgeon can also fuse bones in the spine to limit movement between the bones or joints that are causing you pain. 

For example, when resolving facet joint disease pain, the surgeon will use the endoscope and specialized surgery instruments to remove any diseased cartilage between two bones. The bone ends are cut off and joined together using screws and plates. Over time, the bones will grow into one another to complete the fusion process. 

Reach Out to Our Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeons in Allentown, PA for Back Pain Relief

When your back pain is so severe that traditional pain treatments aren’t effective, the minimally invasive spine surgeons at NJ Spine & Orthopedic will skillfully perform minimally invasive surgery to relieve your back pain and help you regain your quality of life. We will assess your situation and work on getting you on the path to recovery.

At NJ Spine & Orthopedic, our spine surgeons are the leading experts in spinal conditions. We are experienced in relieving your symptoms from even the most severe spinal conditions with minimally invasive spine surgery in Allentown, PA. Call (866) 553-0612 or complete our contact form to alleviate your pain today! Our Concierge Team can also help streamline your treatment and appointments.