Get Active Again & Start Living Pain Free

You have suffered long enough.

Request a Free MRI Review or CTScan Review** now
and learn how you can avoid open back and neck surgery.

Simply complete the form to the right or call and a qualified LSI Patient
Coordinator will contact you in the manner and time in which you request.

If chronic back or neck pain is a part of your life, then you have likely tried many over the counter medicines along with an assortment of prescription pain medication. Unfortunately, for many back and neck pain sufferers, taking pain medicine is a part of life. But what if there were a better option? You may have heard stories about successful back or neck surgeries, but the thought of “going under the knife” is not a pleasant one. However, today, there is an alternative – Laser Spine surgery handled by the medical professionals at one of the 6 Laser Spine Institute locations.

For many years, traditional spine surgeons have been performing back and neck surgery by making large, invasive incisions that require long hospital stays and months of time spent recuperating. This recuperation process requires extensive rehabilitation. However, modern medical advances have shown that the procedure known as endoscopy, used in knee and shoulder surgery since the 1970s, can now be used in back and neck surgery. The result is minimally invasive laser spine procedure that can give you your life back in less than one week!

How Laser Spine Surgery Works

After the patient is given a local anesthetic to put the patient into a level IV sedation, an intravenous catheter is inserted so that deep sedation, medication and fluids can be given during the procedure. The patient is not totally asleep, so that they can interact with the laser spine surgery team as necessary throughout the procedure. The laser spine surgery team generally consists of an anesthesiologist who sits with the patient, a surgical technician who assists the surgeon, the circulating nurse whose job it is to be the liaison between the patient and the operating team and the surgeon.

At Laser Spine Institute, the trained laser surgeons use endoscopy in outpatient laser back and neck procedures by making a miniscule incision then inserting an even tinier tube (18 millimeters) followed by a series of larger tubes placed one at a time over the original tube. As this occurs, the tubes gently dilate the skin and tissue. The tubes are then removed in reverse order and the laser spine surgeon then performs the procedure through the original tube using fiber optic cameras, lasers, irrigation and suction, and other small surgical instruments. In order to “see” what they are doing, Laser Spine Institute surgeons use a fiber optic camera that has a 50X magnification of the area affected.

Most laser spine procedures last an hour. The patient is then taken to the post anesthesia care area and their vital signs are monitored. While there, they may be given pain medication and light refreshments are available if needed. Generally within as little as an hour after the procedure, the patient is up walking around and will be discharged to return home/to their hotel.

What to Expect Post-Operation

The following day, the patient will need to return to LSI for a check-up. On occasion, an epidural may be given to improve range of motion and decrease swelling. Physical therapy is strongly recommended and a book of suggested activities is given to the patient. Standard physical therapy includes stretching exercises, walking, ice/heat, massage and gentle electronic stimulation. After you return home, you will begin to see marked improvements such as ease of mobility, more muscle strength and ultimately a significant reduction in pain. This is because the muscles begin to regenerate at approximately one inch per month and in doing so, the nerve endings that were once atrophied, are strengthened. With time and exercise, you will continue to improve and can gradually increase your activities until you are back to your pre-back trouble days.

You will find the staff at Laser Spine Institute to be helpful and caring, taking time to explain the various procedures and answer any questions and concerns. Laser back and neck procedure options vary depending on the scope of your back problem, but can be categorized as one of the following: Foraminotomy, Laminotomy, Percutaneous Endoscopic Disectomy and Facet Thermal Ablation. These procedures vary, but all are outpatient procedures performed by Laser Spine Institute.

Don’t continue to endure back or neck pain. Call Laser Spine Institute today and talk to one of their patient coordinators. It could be one of the most life changing calls you ever make.