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Disc Osteophyte Complex: All You Need to Know

Your muscles and bones naturally break down as you age. This can cause osteophytes, or bone spurs. Gaining weight, developing degenerative disc diseases like osteoarthritis, aging, or experiencing frequent injuries can weaken the spine. There are extra bone lumps in this case that help keep the spinal column stable or limit its movement. These are called osteophytes, or bone spurs.

Causes of Disc Osteophyte Complex

Disc osteophyte complex is more common in people over 50, but it can also develop in younger people following an injury or another health issue. When these osteophytes press on a nerve root, pain starts to show up. When someone is over 60, their spine weakens, and bony protrusions appear because the discs start to break down. This is the most common time for disc osteophyte complexes to happen. These conditions may happen more often to people who already have osteoarthritis or who have a family history of it.

Treatment For Disc Osteophyte Complex

Many people don't even know they have bone spurs and spinal disc problems, which don't always require treatment. Osteophytes and bulging or herniated discs don't always hurt; symptoms only appear when they press on a nerve near the spinal column. But if you do show signs of nerve compression, your doctor can help you find pain relief and disc osteophyte complex treatments that don't involve surgery. Some popular methods used by conservatives are: 

  • Medicine

  • TMS therapy

  • Getting straighter back

  • Taking shots in the back

Some patients use alternative treatments, like acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, and herbal medicines. Other options like spinal fusion surgery are also available for disc osteophyte complex c5-c6 treatment

Osteophytectomy

Osteophytectomy is the process of cutting off osteophytes, which are bone growths. Different kinds of treatment, depending on the results of the diagnosis, can be used to treat the disc osteophyte complex. Take out a spine, People have this surgery when bone spurs press on spine nerves. A bone spur or any other growth that is putting stress on the nerve roots is removed by the doctor of pain management in Dallas. This gives the squished nerves room to loosen up, which dulls the pain. 

Foraminotomy

Foraminotomy shares the same goal as laminectomy, but instead of removing a portion of the spine, it enlarges the formen, the path that nerves take. Pick between open surgery and minimally invasive surgery. Cuts were made in the body for most surgeries a long time ago. This method was more severe as it resulted in increased pain, prolonged hospital stays, and a longer healing period. With the help of new technology, doctors can now do treatments on their patients more accurately. This type of treatment can effectively treat the disc osteophyte complex if the doctor possesses the necessary skills and tools.

What Degenerative Disc Disease Looks Like & How To Diagnose it?

If you have degenerative disc disease, you will mostly feel pain. A disc that is wearing out usually starts to hurt in the lower back and then goes to the legs and thighs. It may also begin in the neck and spread to the arms and shoulders. These are some of the signs of degenerative disc disease:

  • Your legs and arms feel numb or tingly.

  • It hurts more when you sit down, bend, twist, or lift.

  • Hands, arms, or neck hurt when you push, lift, or pull, the pain gets worse.

  • A lot of pain that comes and goes for days to months

 In order to find the mild disc osteophyte complex, your doctor will ask you about osteoarthritis and whether anyone in your family has had it before. Once pain physicians in Dallas know everything about your health, he or she will feel your spine to see if there are any sore or swollen spots. Some imaging tests, like x-rays and an MRI, will be prescribed by your doctor if they think you might have a disc osteophyte complex. These tests will show the inside of your body and make sure that bone spurs are pulling on your nerve roots.

Recovery After Surgery

After getting rid of the posterior disc osteophyte complex, it takes time to heal, just like after any other major surgery. It takes less time to heal if the treatment is slightly invasive. On the other hand, it can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to fully heal after open surgery.

Get Advanced Care

You might not have disc-osteophyte complexes if you see a doctor right after any injury happens. It takes at least a few weeks after an event for bone spurs to start to form. You feel pain when the growths cover nerves. If you had a bulging disc before the crash, it could get worse. You might also have things get worse. If you injure your ligaments or spinal discs, you may experience unsteadiness and limited movement in your joints. It might hurt the muscles or the bones' joints. You should see the best pain doctor in Dallas right away to get the proper care and a quick evaluation.

Dr. Rao K. Ali M.D.

Dr. Rao Ali, a board-certified pain management physician, leads the clinic, which specializes in nonsurgical treatment. The physician has experience in the emergency room as well as training in pain management and rehabilitation. As a personal physician, he works with each patient to develop a treatment plan that will minimize or eliminate their pain. Providing expert diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of conditions, Pain Management In Dallas, PA provides a comprehensive range of services. These services include neck pain, back pain, hip and knee pain, fibromyalgia, neuropathy, complex regional pain syndrome, headaches, migraines, and many others.