Degenerative disc disease (DDD) surgery may improve your quality of life by addressing degenerative changes in your spinal discs. While DDD does not always cause symptoms, the condition can be very painful if a damaged disc presses on a spinal nerve. If you are seeking treatment, this is probably all too familiar. However, it’s important to understand that surgery may not be your only option. In fact, DDD surgery is usually considered to be a last resort.

Do you need surgery?

A physician will most likely recommend conservative treatment before advising you to consider a surgical procedure to address your DDD symptoms. Many people find that they can successfully manage their pain with a simple regimen of stretches and low-impact exercises, especially when combined with positive lifestyle changes and the use of over-the-counter medications. As such, not everyone needs degenerative disc disease surgery.

In some cases, however, conservative treatment does not result in meaningful symptom improvement, even after several weeks or months. If you are in this situation, you might talk to USA Spine Care to find out if you are a candidate for surgery, especially if severe discomfort is taking a toll on your daily life.

DDD surgical techniques

The ways in which a surgeon can address the effects of degenerative disc disease can vary depending on several factors, including the level of the spine that is affected and the nature and location of the damage. For instance, a spinal decompression procedure may be recommended to:

• Remove part or all of a damaged disc that is pressing on a spinal nerve
• Remove a portion of a spinal bone to create more space for crowded nerves

Additionally, some patients benefit from a spinal stabilization procedure as well.

Minimally invasive surgery at USA Spine Care

The types of spine surgery that can be used to address degenerative disc disease can be broadly categorized as either highly invasive open spine surgery or minimally invasive surgery. The surgeons at USA Spine Care specialize in performing the latter, which offers several advantages compared to open spine surgery, including a faster recovery.^

Contact USA Spine Care to learn more about our minimally invasive spine surgery and how it can potentially alleviate your degenerative disc disease symptoms.

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