Spine Surgery Orange County, CA (Mission Viejo)

Chronic back pain or other back and cervical spine issues?

Patients in Orange County who suffer from chronic pain or other back and spine issues may need to eventually seek relief through spine surgery in Mission Viejo, CA. Dr. Alexander Taghva, M.D., F.A.A.N.S., a board-certified neurosurgeon, offers a wide range of options for back surgery to address several different spinal health concerns.

The Spine Surgery Procedure

The spine is composed of bones and discs that support the body and shield the spinal cord. It transmits signals from the brain to other parts of the body. These bones and discs may fail to develop normally during growth, deteriorate over time, or be damaged, leading to pain and further complications.

Generally speaking, spine surgery is used to repair structural issues or injuries that cannot be cured through other forms of therapy. If standard treatments do not provide the desired effects, a surgical solution is an efficient way of resolving different types of spinal injuries and ailments.

There are many different types of spine surgery, depending on the patient’s specific needs. Below are a few of the conditions that a back surgery can address with back surgery in Mission Viejo with Dr. Taghva:

• back problems like a herniated or ruptured disc
• spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal column)
• Scoliosis
• fractures caused by osteoporosis
• bulging discs
• chronic pain

Reasons to Have Spine Surgery

It’s recommended to try other treatment methods first before trying neurosurgery unless you’ve suffered from a serious spinal cord injury.

That said, there are also various reasons why your doctor may recommend you undergo neurosurgery for your back pain. For instance, here are just some of the reasons why your doctor might suggest surgery as your best option:

• You have a dislocated or broken bone in your back 
• You’re suffering from a spinal infection
• You have a degenerative spinal condition
• You’ve suffered a slipped disc, and it isn’t getting better with other treatment options
• Bone spurs are putting pressure on your spine
• You’re suffering from weakness or numbness in your arms and legs
• You have difficulty using your hands or walking
• Nerve damage in your back is causing you to lose bladder or bowel control
• You have spinal tumors

Spine Surgery Consultation in our Orange County Office

If you think you might be able to benefit from spine surgery at Dr. Taghva’s South Orange County practice, you should be to talk to your healthcare providers and set up a consultation at our office.

When you consult Dr. Taghva in Mission Viejo concerning your back surgery, the surgery’s advantages and disadvantages will be discussed. After revisiting your medical past, covering your signs and past treatments, Dr. Taghva will give an examination.

He may order imaging and other tests before recommending a treatment plan. In case you are a good candidate for spinal surgery, Dr. Taghva will provide you with specific information about the procedure, both the necessary preparation steps and the recovery.

You will be able to ask all your questions during your consultation. Remember that choosing spine surgery is a major decision, and it’s important to have all the information you need to make an informed treatment decision.

Preparing for Back Surgery

When you make arrangements for your back operation, Dr. Taghva’s clinic will offer you an explicit set of preparation directions. You could also be required to undergo examinations and speak with your physician about interrupting some of your drugs in readiness for surgery. Certain over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications and pharmaceuticals can raise perils during surgery and must be discontinued for several weeks prior to and after a spinal surgical procedure.

Patients preparing for spine surgery at our Mission Viejo facility must stop smoking well before the procedure. Depending on the treatment option you choose, you may need general anesthesia. Also, you will need to avoid eating or drinking anything after midnight on the day of the surgery. Make sure you have a ride to and from your appointment, even if it’s just an outpatient procedure.

Types of Spine Surgery

The type of surgery a patient necessitates is contingent on the category and intensity of their spinal issues. Dr. Taghva supplies several types of surgical techniques to assist each individual in obtaining relief from conditions affecting the spine. He utilizes minimally invasive strategies whenever feasible. Some of the surgical procedures he gives are:

• Minimally invasive laminotomy: Lumbar decompression surgery is a technique that can be used to treat lumbar spinal stenosis and provide relief from back pain and sciatica caused by compressed nerve roots.
• Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF): A spinal fusion surgery addressing the lumbar spine (lower spine) involves using bone grafts to treat issues like degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis (disc slipping).
• Minimally invasive discectomy: Removal of a portion of a damaged disc to reduce pressure on the spinal cord.
• Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF): A cervical fusion is a surgical procedure in which damaged discs are removed from the neck. The vertebrae are joined together with a bone graft to relieve pressure on pinched nerves and alleviate pain.
• Minimally invasive foraminotomy: Relieving pressure on compressed spinal nerves by removing blockages and enlarging openings around affected bones in the spine.
• Posterior lumbar fusion (PLIF): Also known as transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), this procedure fuses lumbar spine bones to increase stability. It is often performed alongside lumbar decompression.
• Minimally invasive lateral fusion (XLIF): A spinal fusion surgery performed through the side of the body can treat spinal column problems such as recurring herniated discs, degenerative disc disease , and degenerative scoliosis.
• Total disc replacement: Surgically replaces a damaged disc with an artificial disc.
• Revision spine surgery: Correction of issues left by a prior surgical procedure.

Spine Surgery Recovery

After the spine procedure in our Mission Viejo surgery center, is most important for patients to follow Dr. Taghva’s recovery instructions carefully to ensure proper healing and to reduce the risk of spinal surgery complications occurring.

Regular and cervical spine surgery recovery time varies considerably. Many patients’ incisions heal quickly, but the final healing of the spinal column may take several months. Dr. Taghva will provide you with information on activity restrictions, what to expect, and how to set yourself up for optimal results. He also educates patients on proper spine care to help prevent problems in the future.

How Long Does It Take to Recover From Spine Surgery?

The speed of your recovery following spinal surgery will depend on the type of procedure, following all pre and post-operation guidelines, plus your age, lifestyle, and any medical complications you may have.

For the most part, the average recovery time can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. If you undergo spinal fusion, it could take up to a year before the graft fuses with the surrounding bone, but you should be able to resume most of your normal activities within a month or two.

For other spine treatments, such as spinal laminectomies, decompression, or foraminotomies, it may only take a few weeks to recover.

You have experienced enough pain, and it is time that you start to live life again. It may take a while, but if you remain patient and follow all the necessary steps before and after surgery, you will be able to achieve your goal soon.

Possible Risks and Potential Complications of Spine Surgery

The first thing to remember, all surgical procedures involve some risk, including spine surgery in Orange County. Risks and potential complications vary from procedure to procedure, that’s why your surgeon will identify them during your consultation. For this reason, choosing a respected, board-certified spine surgeon who offers M.I.S.S. is the best way to reduce the risks associated with back surgery.