Recommendations for patients with herniated discs

  Because of the minimally invasive nature of foraminoscopy in the treatment of simple disc herniation and the revolutionary nature of its technology, it has developed and become as popular worldwide in the last two years as arthroscopy and laparoscopy, which are very common nowadays, have been in full swing, benefiting many patients. It has also brought foraminoscopy to the forefront of minimally invasive spine surgery, with current chairs of minimally invasive spine surgery in China, the United States, Asia and Europe all practicing foraminoscopists. Currently, as the most advanced minimally invasive technique worldwide that disrupts traditional surgery, there is no procedure that can match the safety, simplicity, minimally invasive nature, and immediate efficiency of foraminoscopy! In addition, intervertebral foraminoscopy is not a discoscope nor an upgrade of discoscopy, but a new fully endoscopic minimally invasive treatment, please go online “Baidu” to know the difference between the two.  As the first unit in East China to apply this technology, our orthopedic department (spine surgery) has performed more than 400 cases, with a total effective cure rate of more than 90% in the past three years, which is the highest in the province. We were able to present our work at last year’s COA Congress, the highest level of orthopedic surgery in China, as well as travel to advanced hospitals in China and Germany and the United States for further study, exchange and improvement.  Due to the large number of patients coming in and calling us, the clinic and wards are crowded with consultations and working time is limited to answer questions in more detail. Patients are advised to come to the clinic after referring to relevant articles online. In addition, due to the current limitation of the number of operating tables, the two doctors in our department can only complete up to seven cases of foraminotomy a week, because we also have to complete other minimally invasive spine surgeries (such as spinal fractures, cervical spondylosis, spinal stenosis, slipped, etc.), causing most patients to wait, for which we are improving the configuration of the second foraminotomy and the coordination of operating tables to speed up the turnaround as much as possible. We also recommend that patients, especially those from out of town, have their CT and MRI films and lumbar hyperextension and hyperflexion X-rays in the standing position taken at the local hospital so that we can make the first treatment choice, reduce your waiting time, schedule surgery as soon as possible, and reduce the number of days and cost of hospitalization.  At the same time, it is recommended that patients who have just developed the disease can first do traction, physical therapy, epidural closure and other conservative treatment in the nearest local hospital, (not recommended to drink Chinese medicine, acupuncture or small acupuncture knife, heavy manipulation massage is strictly prohibited!) At the same time waist protection, less bending more backward exercise, can push-ups and swimming. Once ineffective, can not solve the leg pain, especially coughing, force such as bowel movements when leg pain intensified, straight leg elevation test is obviously positive, do not wait blindly conservative, so as not to aggravate the disease, resulting in lower limb nerve numbness paralysis, such as can not back extension [fingers, muscle atrophy, walking difficulties or urinary and fecal disorders; and cause difficulties in treatment; or acute aggravation of severe pain also have to wait for surgery appointment embarrassing tricky. In the case of central disc herniation, patients with leg pain not obvious but low back pain, when the above conservative treatment is not effective, it is recommended that minimally invasive interventional treatment can be done first, such as ozone ablation in our interventional department or plasma ablation in other hospitals. In addition, do not blindly look for or believe in the so-called “prescription drugs” on various advertisements, there is no drug that can treat herniated discs in the world, only various painkilling drugs that relieve symptoms, long-term use will have serious gastrointestinal and liver and kidney function damage, which is hemlock.