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What to Expect at Inspired Spine
As a total spine care provider, Inspired Spine offers a range of services and treatments for back problems and back pain, in addition to advanced minimally invasive spine surgery. In fact, fewer than 1 in 10 of our patients require surgery at all. Most find pain relief with other, noninvasive back treatments.
The Inspired Spine Multidimensional Conservative Protocol™️ is a proprietary process which was built upon feedback from Surgeons, Physical Therapists, Chiropractors and Pain Management specialists to determine the best path for all our patients.
Our primary goal is to find the least invasive spinal therapy that works for you. This goal underlies every stage of our process – from initial consultation through treatment plan and follow-up. At every step of the way, you will be aided by our Patient Care Coordinators, who can answer your questions and help make arrangements for your care.
The Initial Consultation
A collapsed disc can be caused by many degenerative spinal conditions or an injury. Below are the most common causes of a collapsed disc.
- Spinal Arthritis: Also known as osteoarthritis, this degenerative condition of the spine is due to aging. Researchers are also learning that some may have a genetic predisposition to spinal arthritis. As the joint structure and function is worn away, the spinal discs may collapse causing the facet joints to rub together.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: As spinal discs become weaker and lose water content, this can cause the disc to collapse and lose height, greatly decreasing the space between vertebrae.
- Herniated Disc: When the interior portion of the spinal disc ruptures the outer portion of the disc, this can cause nerve pain and cause the disc to fully collapse.
- Sudden Injury: A serious injury caused by an auto accident, sports injury, or other type of serious injury can immediately cause a disc to collapse where there were previously no symptoms.
Collapsed Disc Symptoms
We take time to arrive at the right back pain diagnosis and walk you through the best treatment options for you. During your initial consultation at Inspired Spine, you will be seen by an expert spine surgeon. You should expect to discuss your medical history, current symptoms, and any previous treatments you have had for your back problem. To prepare for your appointment, you can download medical history and symptom questionnaires, fill them out ahead of time and bring the completed forms with you to your consultation.
We will also review any recent diagnostic images you may already have, so please bring them with you to your appointment.
We may perform additional diagnostic procedures to help pinpoint the true cause of your pain. For instance, an advanced upright MRI provides a more accurate picture of your spine under pressure – when it hurts – than a reclining MRI would. However, MRIs can be misleading because abnormalities, such as degenerating discs, can be seen on scans for 3 out of 4 people under age 50, and virtually everyone 65 and older.1 In most cases, they are not painful.
Another diagnostic called a discogram can help identify which nerves are causing your pain. This information enables us to focus on treating your pain, not merely correcting anatomical issues.
Before we recommend surgery, we may devise a treatment plan that includes conservative therapy options, such as chiropractic care or pain management services. A minimally invasive spinal surgery procedure is an option when conservative treatments have failed AND back pain significantly affects your quality of life.
Finding Lasting Back Pain Relief
In truth, most of the people who come to Inspired Spine have been living with severe back or neck pain for years and have exhausted all non-surgical alternatives with little or no relief. Their pain still restricts their work, leisure, and normal activities of everyday life. Many have turned to narcotic pain medication, as a last resort.
The Key to Easier Treatment and Faster Recovery
When surgery is required, our patients still get the benefit of the least invasive approach available. Inspired Spine has developed advanced fluoroscopic minimally invasive spinal surgery techniques that allow us to treat even complex spinal conditions without the drawbacks of traditional open surgery.
Outpatient surgery is the norm
- Depending on your insurance coverage and type of procedure, your surgery may be performed in one of our partner hospitals or an Inspired Spine Ambulatory Surgery Center.
- Procedures as short as 45-minutes reduce surgical risk.
- Tiny incisions minimize scarring and lower the chance of infection to nearly 0%.
- Most patients wake up in the recovery room, feeling pain-free for the first time in years.
- 96% of our patients are walking within 2 to 24 hours after the procedure.
For up to 2 weeks after your surgery
- Take pain medication as needed.
- Abstain from driving until you are off all narcotic pain medication. Once off medications, you should be able to safely operate your vehicle again.
- Avoid bending or twisting your spine.
- No lifting more than 8 pounds for the first 2 weeks, then not over 16 pounds after that.
- Stick with “no sweat” activities, like walking.
- Follow our post-operative tips.
Expect to Recover Quickly
Most patients return to work and normal activities in 2 to 4 weeks. Enjoy your life! The purpose of Inspired Spine’s minimally invasive spinal surgery procedures is to get your life back to normal as quickly and easily as possible. Get back in your boat or on your bicycle. Hit the trail or the gym again. Play with your kids or play a few rounds. We want you to get back to the life you want, pain-free.
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Inspired Spine has developed advanced minimally invasive spinal surgery techniques that allow us to treat even complex spinal conditions without the drawbacks of traditional open back surgery.
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Candidate for
MIS Spinal
Surgery?
Is neck or back pain restricting your daily activities? For 6 months or more? Have non-surgical treatments failed to help?
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Different Life.”
Over 1,000 patients have benefited from Inspired Spine MIS Surgeries. See testimonials from just a few.