Before agreeing to have spinal degenerative joint disease surgery, it’s important to have appropriate expectations about the surgery, its effects and your recovery from it. Understanding the implications of surgery, its possible side effects, and how it can help in your particular case can be useful in preparing for surgery and recovery, as well as countering any unrealistic expectations.

Consult directly with your surgeon

Although this general overview can give you some idea about what to expect from spinal degenerative joint disease surgery, the best source of information specific to you is your medical provider, who is familiar with your current condition. Different approaches to surgery may be necessary depending on the location and severity of your spinal joint degeneration, your overall health and other factors.

Types of surgery

There are many types of surgery that may be able to help your spinal degenerative joint disease, including:

• Replacement of a damaged facet joint
• Removal of a portion of a spinal bone and readjustment of the alignment of the spine
• Removal of bone spurs that protrude into the spinal canal and place pressure on surrounding nerve roots or the spinal cord
• Decompression of a nerve root that has had pressure placed on it by surrounding tissue

These surgeries can be performed using traditional, open spine techniques, and many can also be performed as minimally invasive spine surgery. Open spine surgery involves cutting muscle to reach the joints to be treated, whereas a minimally invasive procedure at USA Spine Care is a more muscle-sparing option – a difference that often influences recovery timeframes ^{^}.

Minimally invasive options at USA Spine Care

USA Spine Care is the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, and we have helped more than 75,000 patients since 2005. Our minimally invasive outpatient surgery offers an alternative to open spine surgery, offering a shorter recovery time. In fact, our patients are encouraged to be up and walking within a few hours of surgery.

If you’d like to learn more about USA Spine Care and find out if you’re a candidate for minimally invasive spinal degenerative joint disease surgery, contact us today. We can answer your questions, discuss your goals and provide you with a no-cost MRI review*.

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