DISC Spine Institute is giving back pain sufferers hope for a pain-free life February 1st, 2017 Back Pain Amy Crowell Pain-Free Life photo by Bär Baer / CC 2.0 Table of Contents Toggle Conservative approach with numerous options for pain reliefAdvancements and Innovations at DISC Spine InstituteContinued growth and learning that never stops Experts in minimally invasive surgeries If you’re going to the doctor because of back pain, you may have been suffering for weeks, months, or even years. Or, maybe you just started feeling pain and want to make sure it isn’t something serious. Either way, your desire to live a pain-free life is your No. 1 goal. Thankfully, it’s also the No. 1 goal of DISC Spine Institute doctors, and the reason why so many people are finding hope that they can end back pain for good. Conservative approach with numerous options for pain relief “Ask most surgeons why they became surgeons and they usually tell you the same thing. The high, the rush, the thrill of the cut.” That telling quote from Grey’s Anatomy epitomizes many surgeons, or, at least, the impression many people have of surgeons. Which is why many back pain sufferers are so surprised when they meet with doctors at the DISC Spine Institute and learn about their thoughtful and conservative approach. Instead of looking to “cut first,” these leading Texas back doctors consider all of the available options, seeking to heal patients in the least invasive manner possible. Today, that often means anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and massage. Both epidural steroid injections and facet injections have proven to be very effective in chronic back pain management for conditions like herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and arthritis. These are done in just minutes, and require no general anesthesia or hospitalization. The physicians and staff at DISC Spine Institute assist patients to coordinate the recommended plan of care to begin the healing process. Advancements and Innovations at DISC Spine Institute While many people respond well to injections and need no further treatment for their back pain, for others, a more advanced approach is needed. Those who are suffering with chronic back pain often choose a spine institute for the specialized training and experience of this professionals. A very small percentage—only 10 percent!–of back doctors have the advanced skills and experience to successfully use minimally invasive procedures to help heal their patients. And the best back doctors are skilled in innovative techniques that can help a patient become pain free in a matter of minutes. Minimally invasive back procedures like Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty are done as outpatient procedures to fix compression fractures, and can give patients pain relief in about 15 minutes. The incisions measure only 3mm incisions, there are no sutures, and the procedures are generally done with only a local anesthetic. Continued growth and learning that never stops Medicine never stops evolving, and neither do top Texas back doctors. When patients come to the DISC Spine Institute, they are seeking board certified and fellowship trained orthopedic spine surgeons who are leaders in their field. But they also appreciate the spirit of learning these doctors share. Solving back issues and allowing patients to return to their pain-free lives is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and the doctors at DISC Spine Institute are the ones who are always researching, learning, and looking for new and better answers for their patients. Experts in minimally invasive surgeries The past decade has seen some truly impressive advancements in minimally invasive techniques, and many patients look to the DISC Spine Institute for their specialized expertise in spinal surgery when other methods have not eliminated their back pain. Minimally invasive back surgeries also have several advantages over traditional surgery that make it easier on the body: Less time under anesthesia; only about 1/10 of the blood needed; no big scars; and a 50 percent reduction in the time spent in the hospital, said the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS). Individual studies including research findings published in Spine show that “patients who have a low back surgery called minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), end up better off in many ways than patients who have more invasive surgery to alleviate debilitating pain,” said Medical News Today. For more information, contact DISC Spine Institute, experts in minimally invasive treatments, the most effective medical procedures to treat and eliminate chronic back pain. Subscribe to Back Stories to stay up to date on all the latest posts.