Spinal Fusion: A Patient’s Guide to Surgery, Recovery, and Renewed Strength
Are you a candidate for a spinal fusion procedure? We’ll tell you what you need to know and how best to prepare for the surgery.
Herniated discs and degenerative spine conditions are common problems among both working-age individuals and the elderly. These issues can sometimes arise after spinal injuries, which may accelerate disc or spinal degeneration. Such conditions often lead to chronic back pain, numbness, pain radiating down the legs, and difficulty walking. The pain typically worsens with movement and tends to improve with rest.
There are 3 primary treatment options:
- Medication and physical therapy combined with behavioral adjustments, such as avoiding prolonged sitting and heavy lifting.
- Epidural steroid injections to help reduce inflammation or leg pain radiating from nerve compression.
- If symptoms persist, interfere with daily life, or worsen—such as muscle weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control—surgery may be necessary to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
Today, a minimally invasive surgical technique called MIS-TLIF (Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion) is used to treat spinal conditions. The technique involves fusing spinal joints through a small incision, reducing damage to muscles and surrounding tissues.
Benefits of MIS-TLIF:
- Small incision, less pain, faster recovery
- Less damage to surrounding muscles and tissues
- Lower risk of infection and minimal blood loss
- Shorter hospital stay
This surgical technique is suitable for individuals with spondylolisthesis with associated spinal instability or spinal stenosis who have not responded to conservative treatments for more than 6 months.
For more information, please contact
Spine Center, Vejthani Hospital
Call: (+66)2-734-0000 Ext. 5500
English Hotline: (+66)85-223-8888
Medically Reviewed by
Readers’ Rating
5.0 out of 5 stars (based on 1 review)
