Sitting and working for long hours until neck and back pain occurs, beware! Spinal nerve compression disease
Today, we will introduce everyone to lumbar spondylolisthesis in detail, starting from the symptoms that serve as warning signs, what actually causes lumbar spondylolisthesis, and whether surgery is as scary as people think.
Warning signs… risk of lumbar spondylolisthesis
When lumbar spondylolisthesis occurs, the nerves are compressed, causing patients to feel pain from the shoulder down to the leg. The legs begin to feel weak. In severe cases where the vertebrae are significantly displaced, all nerves may be compressed, resulting in numbness in both legs or even difficulty urinating.
Causes of lumbar spondylolisthesis…
In fact, there are many causes of lumbar spondylolisthesis, such as aging, continuous and prolonged use that leads to degeneration of the intervertebral discs, joints, and ligaments. Moreover, cases with excess body weight or frequent poor posture increase the risk of developing this condition even more.
Screw fixation… helps treat lumbar spondylolisthesis
Patients with mild symptoms or who have not yet experienced muscle weakness can be treated with exercise combined with weight loss to strengthen the back muscles, or by taking medication as prescribed by a doctor. However, in severe cases of lumbar spondylolisthesis, “screw fixation surgery” is the treatment method that helps stabilize the unstable vertebrae back into their original alignment. Although surgery is the only way to cure this condition, it is usually the last option! This depends primarily on the doctor’s judgment and the patient’s preference.
Screw fixation surgery… small incision, less pain, quick recovery
When it comes to “surgery”, patients often worry about the size of the incision. The “screw fixation surgery” involves a small incision of only 2.5 cm on each side to allow the insertion of a camera to the area where the screws will be fixed. The surgeon operates on the sides of the spine (right and left sides of the spinal column) instead of making a long incision down the middle. This method causes less muscle damage, less blood loss during surgery, and most patients do not require blood transfusions during the operation. Postoperative pain is minimal, and recovery time is shorter compared to other surgical methods.
In most surgeries… large incisions are made because metal rods need to be inserted into the spine, but with the endoscopic spinal fixation technique, the surgical incision size is reduced.
In the future, the number of patients with this condition will increase due to prolonged work in the same posture, which is a risk factor for spinal diseases. Therefore, self-care and choosing minimally invasive surgical treatment are important for everyone. Phyathai 3 Hospital is the answer, equipped with advanced tools, a specialized medical team with over 20 years of experience in minimally invasive surgery, and a nursing team trained directly in postoperative care to help patients return to normal life.
Dr. Teerachai Phanitpong
Neurosurgeon and Spine Surgeon
Phyathai 3 Hospital
