Performing the surgery is recommended when:

the pain persists despite the implementation of rehabilitation treatment, the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs and injecting the spine with a steroid,
there is muscle paresis or urinary incontinence - these are conditions indicating advanced compression of the nerve roots, requiring urgent surgical intervention.

The aim of the surgery is to decompress the compressed nerve structures by removing the nucleus pulposus that has slipped out of the degenerated intervertebral disc. The choice of surgical access and the procedure technique is up to the neurosurgeon who qualifies the patient for surgery.

One method of widening a narrowed spinal canal is through laminectomy. This procedure consists in cutting out the vertebral arch plates together with the spinous process limiting the canal space from the back side. In a hemilaminectomy, the surgeon cuts the arch lamina on one side of the spinous process (right or left). If necessary, bone growths are removed and the intervertebral holes are deepened. The treatment allows you to decompress the pressed nerve roots or the spinal cord and relieve pain.

After a laminectomy (excision of the vertebral arches), getting up and walking is possible within a few days of the operation. The doctor makes the decision about the possibility of standing upright. Sometimes it is necessary to use a corset that stabilizes the operated section of the spine. Getting up and walking is done under the supervision of a physiotherapist.

Vertebroplasty is performed to strengthen the vertebral bodies that have been fractured by compression, most often as a result of osteoporosis. The procedure consists in the percutaneous injection of a special cement into the vertebral body, which hardens after about 20-30 minutes. The effect is to strengthen the weakened shaft and alleviate or completely eliminate the pain of a broken vertebra. Vertebroplasty is also performed in people with neoplastic processes in the spine and other pathological changes that weaken the bone structure.

When injected into the vertebral body, the liquid cement hardens after about 20-30 minutes. It is recommended that patients remain lying down for a minimum of 2 hours after the procedure. Standing up and walking is possible with the express consent of the doctor.

Microdiscectomy is one of the minimally invasive methods of treating intervertebral disc herniation. The surgeon makes a small incision of the body integuments (3-4 cm). Then he folds back the paraspinal soft tissues to the side so as to gain convenient access to the nerve root pressed by the nucleus pulposus. Thanks to the use of miniature tools and apparatus enlarging the area of ​​the operating field, the nucleus pulposus can be precisely removed from the place where it puts pressure on the nerve structures. At the same time, intraoperative tissue trauma is much less extensive compared to traditional surgical access. The advantage of microdiscectomy is that it does not interfere with the structures of the spine, which gives a better cosmetic effect, enables early upright standing and shortens the recovery period.

Standing up and walking is only possible with the consent of the surgeon. Uprighting usually takes place on the same day or on the second day after the surgery. The patient receives a discharge from the hospital after an examination confirming good general and neurological condition.

Discectomy is the removal of the nucleus pulposus that slipped out of the degenerated intervertebral disc and led to irreversible pressure on the nerve root. Nerve root decompression enables the restoration of muscle functions supplied by the compressed nervous structure (lifting of paresis). The endoscopic procedure is characterized by low invasiveness - it requires making one or two small holes (approx. 5 mm) on the back through which surgical instruments and a camera are inserted. There is no need to cut the muscles or bone elements of the spine. As a result, the patient's convalescence period is shorter compared to an open surgery.

The indications for surgical treatment are irreversible pressure of the nucleus pulposus on the nerve root. An urgent indication is the occurrence of complications in the form of limb paresis or dysfunction of the sphincters (urinary incontinence). Surgical treatment is also undertaken in the case of no effects of rehabilitation, anti-inflammatory and analgesic treatment, when pain and / or sensory disturbances persist and negatively affect the patient's quality of life.

The discectomy procedure is most often performed under local anesthesia, i.e. local deprivation of sensory stimuli. In most cases, general anesthesia is not necessary.

Laminophoraminotomy is one of the methods of surgical treatment of herniated intervertebral discs. This procedure is often performed within the cervical spine. The operation consists in cutting the laminae of the arches of two adjacent vertebrae, widening the intervertebral foramen, and then removing the nucleus pulposus compressing the nerve root or the meningeal sac.

In the early postoperative period, it may be necessary to wear an orthopedic collar to stabilize the cervical spine (if recommended by your doctor). On the seventh day after the procedure, the operated area and the patient's neurological condition are checked, and the stitches are removed. Then the patient should strictly follow the doctor's instructions and participate in rehabilitation. Convalescence after surgery is a very individual process, depending on the type of surgery performed, its course, the presence of possible complications and the patient's involvement in rehabilitation.

If rehabilitation and painkillers do not alleviate the pain, it may be necessary to insert an implant between the spinous processes. The implant increases the distance between the spinous processes, reducing pain resulting from mechanical tissue irritation. Qualification for surgery is performed by a surgeon on the basis of a clinical examination and assessment of X-rays and other imaging tests. Sometimes the pain may result from multiple pathologies present in the course of degenerative disease of the spine, therefore it is very important to carefully diagnose and plan the appropriate treatment.

After the procedure, the mobility of the lumbar spine is limited. It is contraindicated to perform bends, sudden rotations and lifting heavy objects. The recommended form of activity is swimming and exercises to strengthen the muscles in a lying or supported kneeling position. Following the doctor's recommendations after the procedure reduces discomfort in the spine and extends the life of the implants. Individual activity limitations are discussed with the patient during a medical visit.