Is It Time to Consider Surgery for Your Pinched Spinal Nerve?

If you have been diagnosed with a pinched spinal nerve, your doctor is in no rush to suggest a surgical solution.

Instead, treatment will start with a range of more conservative options, including medications, physical therapy and steroid injections. For many patients, those options will bring relief to a condition that can sap the joy out of life through pain and lost mobility.

But for some people, there may be a point where relief may only be accomplished through surgery. That point may vary from patient to patient.

What Is a Pinched Spinal Nerve?

A pinched nerve occurs when some part (surrounding tissue, bones or disks) of your body puts unnatural pressure on one of your nerves. When this occurs in your spinal column it is known as radiculopathy, which can have several causes, including:

• Herniated disk. There can be damage to the small disks located between the vertebrae of your spinal column. These disks act as cushions, but can become damaged, allowing the gelatinous material to leak, putting pressure on nearby nerves. This can create situations where you feel fine one day and then disabled by severe pain the next day.
• Central spinal stenosis. This condition causes a narrowing of your spinal column in your lower back. This is more common in older people and happens slowly over time. It can affect your ability to stand up straight or walk longer distances. Numbness in your legs may get better when you sit and lean forward.
• Foraminal stenosis. This is a narrowing of one or more of the openings where nerves leave your spinal column and head out to other parts of your body. This can cause pain, numbness, tingling or muscle weakness in the part of your body controlled by the affected nerve.
• Spondylolisthesis. This occurs when one or more vertebrae shift out of position in your spinal column, restricting the space needed by your nerves.
• Injury. Accidents and falls can damage muscles, ligaments or other tissues near a nerve.

When More Conservative Options Fail

After your condition is diagnosed, your doctor will recommend a series of escalating treatments, including rest, physical therapy, medications (over the counter and prescription) and epidural steroid injections.

As your treatment progresses, you and your doctor will assess their effectiveness and whether you are getting enough relief. Everyone has a different level of pain tolerance. But you will need to take a look at your life and how it is impacted by your condition.

Can you go to work each day? Can you get in and out of your car? Can you make it to the mailbox and back? Can you cook a meal? If you can’t carry out basic daily activities, it’s time to consider surgical alternatives.

Spinal Surgeries

The type of surgery your doctor recommends will vary based on your condition. Often, these procedures can be accomplished using minimally invasive surgical techniques. These surgeries, which rely on a few small incisions, offer the benefit of less blood loss, shorter hospital stays and quicker recoveries. Among the surgical procedures:

• Laminotomy. A piece of bone is removed from a vertebra to relieve pressure on a nerve in this minimally invasive procedure.
• Microdiscectomy. The minimally invasive procedure removes all or part of a herniated disk.
• Laminectomy. The bony arch from a vertebra is removed.
• Spinal fusion. Two or more vertebrae are joined permanently to relieve pain and increase stability in the spine.

People are often reluctant to even consider spinal surgery, sometimes because of misconceptions about the risk, recovery times and outcomes. If you have concerns, have a conversation with your doctor, who will explain your options and the risks involved. Also, do not hesitate to get a second opinion. There is often more than one way to approach a particular spine problem. Consider all your options before making a decision.

This content is not AI generated.