Back pain is a common problem for many Americans. While some people find relief with physical therapy and other conservative treatments, some patients need surgery to find relief. Luckily, minimally invasive spine (MIS) surgery, is a great alternative to traditional spine surgery. If you would like to know more, keep reading.

Who Is a Good Candidate for MIS Surgery?               

Naturally, to be a good candidate for MIS surgery, you must first be healthy enough to undergo surgery. In addition, doctors may discourage MIS surgery if you have severe osteoporosis. Surgery should also be your last option, so your doctor may only recommend surgery after more conservative procedures have failed.

Last, you must have a condition that can be treated with MIS surgery. There are many conditions that can be treated with this procedure. Some common conditions treated with MIS surgery include herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spine tumors, slipped vertebrae, pinched nerves, and many more.

What Are the Benefits of MIS Surgery?

The benefits of MIS surgery are two-fold. First, you get the benefits of treatment, which can include pain reduction, increased mobility, increased flexibility, improved strength, etc. Second, MIS surgery, as the name suggests, is less invasive than traditional surgery, which also comes with a handful of benefits.

There is less risk of causing damage to muscles, nerves, and other parts of the body because the incision is smaller. This also means there is less bleeding, and the scar is much smaller. Recovery time is usually faster than with traditional spine surgery, and there is less need for pain medications. While there is always a risk of infection after surgery, the risk with MIS surgery is diminished.

What MIS Surgery Treatments Exist?

There are multiple treatments under the MIS surgery umbrella. One common procedure is spinal decompression, which treats spinal stenosis (a condition in which the vertebral canal starts to narrow). During spinal decompression, some of the tissue is removed to reduce the nerve compression.

Discectomy is another common MIS surgery treatment. This is great for treating issues with the spinal discs, such as a herniated disc. When the disc doesn't sit properly, or if it starts to bulge, it can compress nerves. Treatment involves removing some of the herniated disc to reduce pressure on the nerves.

MIS surgery can help relieve a host of issues, especially pain. It is less invasive than traditional surgery and can be what you need to finally find relief. If you would like to know more about minimally invasive spine surgery, contact a provider near you.