Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Specialist
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Grant D. Shifflett, M.D.
Spine Surgeon located in Marina Del Rey, CA & Newport Beach, CA
Not long ago, spinal surgery automatically meant a week-long hospital stay and a lengthy recovery. Now, with the help of Grant D. Shifflett, MD, spinal surgery doesn’t have to be aggressive surgery. At his Marina del Rey and Newport Beach, California, offices, Dr. Shifflett offers minimally invasive spine surgery. To learn more about these procedures and if they’re an option for you, contact this fellowship-trained spine surgeon. Call today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Shifflett. You can even book your appointment online.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Q & A
How does minimally invasive spine surgery differ from traditional spine surgery?
Traditional spine surgery, considered an open surgery, is an aggressive procedure requiring a significant amount of time to heal. These surgeries require the surgeon to make a long incision to “open” the targeted area.
With modern technological advances, spine surgeries are less invasive. The new minimally invasive spine surgeries don’t require a long incision, which damages the affected muscles and ligaments. Because less damage occurs, you recover faster and experience less pain.
Who should consider minimally invasive spine surgery?
Spine surgery, even when minimally invasive, always involves risk and recovery. Dr. Shifflett only recommends spine surgery after nonsurgical treatments have failed. Before considering surgery, he often asks you to try medication, physical therapy, or other non-invasive treatments.
If Dr. Shifflett can’t determine the root cause of your pain, spinal surgery isn’t an option.
When your back pain prevents you from doing the things you love, and you’ve tried other options with little to no relief, minimally invasive spine surgery might be right for you. Dr. Shifflett performs pain-relieving decompression surgeries with cutting-edge techniques, where he removes part of your herniated disc or bone to take the pressure off of your spinal nerves.
If your vertebrae are causing the pain, Dr. Shifflett may suggest a minimally invasive spinal fusion procedure.
What is recovery like after minimally invasive spine surgery?
With today’s technology, recovery after your minimally invasive spine surgery is much easier than with traditional spine surgeries. Depending on the procedure, you may have to spend two to three days in the hospital, or Dr. Shifflett may perform microsurgery as an outpatient procedure.
Post-operative pain tends to occur, although it’s often much less severe than the pain experienced after open spine surgeries. To help you manage, Dr. Shifflett prescribes the appropriate pain and anti-inflammatory medications.
He also recommends starting physical therapy as soon as possible. During therapy, you learn strengthening exercises that help your spine heal and improve your strength and stability.
If the idea of an open spine surgery has kept you from seeking relief from your back or neck pain, find a solution with minimally invasive spine surgeries. Call to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Shifflett today or book it online.
