Laser treatment of spinal hernia

Removal of a hernia of the spine with a laser is today one of the most modern methods of treating such a difficult disease. This method of solving the problem is especially relevant, if we recall that the hernia of the spine is getting younger every year, affecting an increasing number of young people due to their tendency to a sedentary lifestyle and absolute unsuitability for loads of varying severity.

Since laser therapy is performed for spinal hernia, what are the features of the intervention and, most importantly, how to properly prepare for it and recover after.

Laser therapy - what is it?

Many patients who are not familiar with modern treatment methods are wondering what laser treatment is.

In modern medicine, light radiation is widely used to treat various diseases. Spinal hernia is no exception. Laser therapy easily not only stimulates regeneration processes in the body, but also helps to completely destroy the defect that worries a person.

It is on the destruction of the defect that the treatment of a hernia of the spine with a laser is directed.

Many are concerned about the question of whether radiation will damage tissues that are not affected by pathological processes? It's not worth worrying about. The skin and muscles are immune to the frequency of light waves, which is necessary to act on the intervertebral discs in order to eliminate hernial protrusions.

There are several types of impact on the defect. The attending physician chooses the optimal technique, assessing not only the general condition of the patient, but also the size of the protrusion. If the bulge is large, there is a chance that the treatment with light rays will not be used, as it will not be able to cope with the hernia.

Laser therapy treatment allows you to effectively cope with the defect if the doctor carefully evaluates the indications and does not neglect the symptoms.

Two types of procedures

There are two types of laser treatment for spinal hernia. The choice of the optimal type is carried out by the attending physician.

Vaporization

Vaporization of a hernia is one of the most minimally invasive methods of getting rid of pathology today. For the treatment of disc herniation, a single exposure with the help of a special device is enough, which will help to bring the light beam as close as possible to the place where the defect was formed. In this case, the beam, acting on the nucleus pulposus, reduces its size due to the evaporation effect, which allows either to greatly reduce the protrusion, or to get rid of it altogether.

Another name for this technique is denucleation. It is explained by the fact that the impact is only on the core, consisting of a pulpous substance that is easy to evaporate.

Removal of an intervertebral hernia by a laser using the vaporization technique allows a very dosed effect on the affected area without injuring the surrounding tissues.

One session is usually enough to alleviate the patient's condition, but sometimes repeated exposure may be required if the defect is large. If physiotherapy and other restorative techniques are correctly selected after the procedure, then after about 6 months a person will be able to completely forget that he once had problems with the spinal column.

Reconstructive Therapy

It is possible to treat hernial protrusions with a laser using the reconstruction technique, or, as it is also called, regenerative. At the same time, unlike vaporization, weaker light radiation is used here in order to provoke not the evaporation of tissues, but the improvement of regeneration processes in them.

The therapeutic effect in the lumbar region or any other part of the spine allows you to warm up the tissues and start the recovery process. Not only blood circulation in the affected area improves, but immune cells are activated, which soothe the inflammatory process and facilitate healing processes.

After the first exposure, regenerative processes continue for some time. During them, the cartilaginous tissue is restored, the nucleus pulposus again takes its place.

Laser removal of a hernia of the spine is especially effective either after traumatization of the spine or during surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system. After surgical interventions, it is successfully supplemented by plasmolifting.

A little about the technique of plasmolifting

Plasmolifting is a method that allows you to introduce into the patient's body his own concentrated blood elements. It is used not only in the treatment of hernia, but also to get rid of osteochondrosis, spondylarthrosis and other similar pathologies.

Plasmolifting allows you to eliminate pain, inflammation, swelling of tissues. Also, all regeneration processes are additionally stimulated, and local blood flow improves, which only increases the effectiveness of the procedure.

Plasmolifting, as noted by many patients, is a good way to effectively support the results obtained during hernia treatment.

When is this therapy indicated?

Laser vaporization of herniated discs or reconstructive therapy are techniques that give the best effect during the period until the disease has reached its peak. If the hernial protrusion is still quite small and has not reached 5-6 mm in size, then the method will be the most optimal.

Laser therapy is used if drug therapy is ineffective, and there is still no indication for a full-fledged operation.

A doctor may recommend intervention in the following cases:

the patient complains of severe pain in the back, which disturbs him on a regular basis;
in the area of the lesion, there is a burning sensation or goosebumps, which cause the patient severe inconvenience, interfere with the normal performance of habitual actions;
the patient complains of frequent sensory disturbances in the back or in the lower extremities;
a person, when contacting a doctor, constantly complains of dizziness and headaches, which indicate that the hernia pinches not only the nerve trunks, but also affects the vessels that provide fresh blood to the brain.

When intervention will only make the disease worse

Physiotherapy treatment, together with laser exposure, have proven to be simple but effective methods of getting rid of pathology. True, despite the simplicity of the technique and effectiveness, there are a number of contraindications that sometimes make it impossible to use them.

Contraindications include:

the age of the patient, which has gone beyond the mark of 50 years, since in this case degenerative processes have already begun in the body, which are much more active than regenerative ones, which means that no stimulation will be effective;
when the nucleus pulposus is ossified, the procedure is also not used, since in this case it is already completely ineffective;
with a strong destruction of the fibrous ring, when the nucleus pulposus is in the cavity of the intervertebral canal and puts pressure on the spinal cord;
active inflammatory processes also put an end to laser therapy;
when the spinal cord is involved in the pathological process, treatment of a hernia with a laser is also not recommended, so as not to aggravate the situation.

Many doctors consider the period of pregnancy and lactation to be a relative contraindication. True, in this case, the expected harm to the fetus and the benefit to the mother are often assessed, and if the latter greatly outweighs, it is possible to use a laser in treatment.

Preparation for the intervention and its course

Laser removal of an intervertebral hernia is prescribed to a person not after the first visit to the doctor, but only after a thorough examination and correct diagnosis. To do this, the doctor must carefully collect an anamnesis, conduct a general examination and prescribe a number of tests and diagnostic studies. Consultation of a neurosurgeon and a radiologist are considered mandatory . The first will be able to assess the scope of the upcoming interventions, and the second, having studied x-rays, will make assumptions about the size and location of the hernia.

Before the procedure are required:

radiography of the spinal column;
CT;
ECG;
general blood and urine tests.

The intervention technology looks very simple and consists of four stages:

The doctor uses a local anesthetic to anesthetize the intended site of exposure.
Through a puncture in the skin, a special thin needle is brought to the defect.
A special LED is passed through a hollow needle, which, with the help of radiation, will reduce the size of the hernia or have a stimulating effect on regenerative processes.
At the end of the procedure, an x-ray is taken, which allows you to evaluate the success of the intervention.

On average, the treatment procedure takes a period of time from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the amount of exposure.

Advantages and disadvantages of the procedure

Although the technique has been used in medical practice not so long ago, however, it has already managed to prove itself due to a number of advantages.

Pros:

short duration of the entire manipulation as a whole;
tangible improvements after the first procedure and good tolerance regardless of age;
minimal risk of infection, since there is practically no blood;
does not create instability of the spinal column;
the nearest tissues are not damaged, which means that scars, scars and other cosmetic defects do not form;
the patient after an additional course of physiotherapy quickly restores his working capacity.

Although the procedure is very effective, it also has a number of disadvantages.

Among them:

rather high cost by the standards of many patients;
the inability to prevent relapses, which are possible if the nucleus pulposus is very large;
the use of local anesthesia, which is why there is no insurance against discomfort;
the impossibility of eliminating large defects in this way.

Before recommending laser therapy to your patient, the doctor should carefully weigh all the positive and negative aspects so as not to aggravate the situation.

Basic rules of rehabilitation

Although the intervention is considered minimally invasive, it will still not work to immediately return to the usual way of life. A minimum rehabilitation is needed, which will not only strengthen the body as a whole, but also consolidate the results of the treatment.

Recommended:

the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , which will not allow the development of local negative reactions;
physiotherapy , which will not only support the regenerative processes in the spine, but also help fight inflammation (physiotherapy procedures are selected individually for each patient and sometimes include plasmolifting);
physiotherapy exercises , which will help to quickly restore mobility to the spine, but at the same time not overload it, provoking complications;
lifestyle changes , including developing the habit of eating right, abandoning harmful inclinations, switching to an optimal mode of work and rest, if possible.

Removal of a hernia of the spine with a laser is not only a modern, but also a minimally invasive method of treatment, which is preferred by many practicing doctors today.

This approach, like any other medical procedure, has a number of advantages and disadvantages that must be considered. If the technique is used correctly and according to the indications, then the patient will surely be satisfied with the result and will never remember that he once suffered from an intervertebral hernia.