Headaches have a multitude of causes, from infections and diseases to nerve problems and head injuries. One common reason for chronic headaches is damaged discs in your neck, a problem that’s a specialty for Stephen Watson, MD, of Innovative Spine Care in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Watson is an expert in performing minimally invasive thulium laser discectomy and neural decompression to treat the herniated cervical discs that so frequently cause headaches. Find out how you could benefit from laser discectomy for headaches by calling Innovative Spine Care today or booking an appointment online.
With some types of headaches, like migraines, the cause isn’t fully understood. It’s likely that a combination of genetics and slight brain abnormalities may make you more vulnerable. Headaches can also be due to:
One of the most common underlying causes of headaches is neck injuries and age-related changes in the structures of your neck.
Auto accidents, falls, and sports injuries often damage the vertebrae, muscles, discs, and connective tissues in your cervical spine, causing neck pain, tingling and numbness in your arms, and headaches.
With some headaches, you need to address the underlying cause. That could mean making sure you drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration, taking antibiotics for a sinus infection, or adopting strategies to manage stress more effectively.
If you suffer from migraines, medications can help to reduce the number of attacks you get and make them less intense. Treatments like medical Botox® injections can also help with migraines.
If your headaches are due to a problem with the discs in your neck, Dr. Watson provides an innovative solution called laser discectomy and neural decompression.
When you have a bulging or herniated disc in your neck, it means the soft core of the disc is stretching or pushing through the outer shell. The protruding core puts pressure on the nerves that come off your spinal cord and nearby blood vessels, causing swelling, inflammation, and pain.
Changes in the damaged disc may also result in the production of inflammatory substances that irritate the nerves. Dr. Watson can determine the exact problem by looking at an MRI of your neck.
If disc damage is the cause of your headaches, laser discectomy and neural decompression is a minimally invasive method of addressing the issue.
Dr. Watson performs laser cervical discectomy and neural decompression in a surgery center. Using fluoroscopy X-ray guidance, Dr. Watson places needles into each damaged disc from the right side of the front of your neck. He then applies thulium laser energy to your discs.
The laser energy comes from light and is a safe and painless way to relieve cervical spine pain and headaches. When he’s finished treating all the injured discs, Dr. Watson injects antibiotics into them and removes the instruments.
To get relief from your headaches, call Innovative Spine Care today or book an appointment online.
