That Icy Cold Feeling
Books generally describe the pain of a ruptured disc as sudden and sharp. Testimonials are different. It is an ice cold numbness that spreads rapidly down the back, catching you by surprise. As suddenly as it starts, it disappears leaving you to wonder what that was all about. As time passes, the numbness turns to gradual ice cold pain and before you know it, what you had once ignored is now a full blown pain. It numbs your brain as well, as if it is trying to tell you to do something. Eventually your doctor informs you that your problem is a herniated disc. And the only sure way to cure that is through a bulging disc surgery.
In medical terms a disc is cartilaginous cushion that supports the numerous vertebral bones that makes up a spinal column. The unique S-shape of the human spinal column allows its manoeuvrability and extensive movements. Among mammals, the straighter the spine, the more rigid the movements becomes. A herniation or bulging disc occurs when the disc ruptures or is torn due to trauma or friction and presses into the spinal canal. Some disc material can cause more pressure on the nerve roots of the spinal cord. In time, the disc may partially recover and the pain would be somewhat relieved. Degeneration of the disc material may be caused by aging. The ruptured disc will stress the vertebral bones when the cushion thins and the bones rub against each other causing friction. This may lead to spondylosis or arthritis of the spine. The pain may be so severe that any form of the most minimum of movements will be eliminated.
Two procedures used for bulging disc surgery are discectomy and fusion:
Discectomy involves the removal of the affected disc. Eventually, the disc is replaced with a material that will take the place of the ruined one.
Lumbar fusion is another type of procedure that involves bone grafting. A bone fragment is removed from a hip bone and is placed to put a cap on the weak point of the vertebra. This allows for the affected nerves to recover. Modern technique improved on this technique by the insertion of an x-stop device that actually allows the movement of the vertebrae without causing friction.
Bulging disc surgery can be a highly invasive procedure that will require big incisions on the back to expose the spine. New techniques have been developed that could quickly replace the scalpel routine. These require smaller incisions to reach the herniation. With the classic bulging disc surgery method, recovery could be lengthy and tedious. There is more room for infection to complicate the recovery period. The more modern technique has shortened the recovery period considerably and there is less room for infection as there is less invasion of the body.
For those whose only option is a bulging disc surgery, the long-tem effects are highly favourable. However, for every surgical procedure there are always risks. Some individuals can have recurring disc deterioration and may require more surgeries. For those who undergo a fusion type of bulging disc surgery, movements can be minimized but tolerable. In the end, the pros still outweigh the cons, and life is made easier and pain free.