Back Surgery in Turkey: Major Types and Costs
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  • 02 February 2025

Back Surgery in Turkey: Major Types and Costs

The structure of the back region in humans is so complex. To help you move and support your skeleton, it is made up of 40 muscles and 30 bones.

At some time in their life, most people, however, will have worrisome back or neck discomfort or pain.

This could result from an accident or from aging itself. However, doing daily duties may become difficult due to this pain.

The nature and source of neck or back pain determine how it should be treated. It is frequently a transient ailment that improves with self-care.

In other situations, it's critical to get medical attention since there could be another issue at play.

The spine can be affected by a number of disorders, which can cause pain, discomfort, and decreased function.

Surgery may be necessary only to address spinal deformities, infections, injuries, tumors, and some degenerative spine disorders such as stenosis and herniated disks.

Back Surgery in Turkey

Back Surgery in Turkey

Although most people do not actually require surgery, back discomfort can be treated with different types of surgery for lower back pain.

Back pain can also frequently be relieved by additional therapies such as injections, physiotherapy, medications, and other conservative methods.

In Turkey, doctors and surgeons provide conservative and surgical methods to deal with back pain, especially in the lumbar region, which requires lumber spine surgery.

Only if your doctor thinks surgery will help and these therapies are ineffective will you have a type of back surgery.

Data indicates that 20 to 40 percent of back procedures are unsuccessful, meaning that surgery frequently does not alleviate the pain.

Failed back surgery syndrome is the medical name for this lack of success since it is so prevalent among cases.

A spine surgeon, who may be an orthopedic or neurosurgeon, may be recommended by your physician to provide surgery for low back pain.

An open (conventional) spine surgery approach, which entails an incision along the backbone, is an option available to the spine surgeon in Turkey.

To reach the spine's bones and spinal cord, the surgeon must push aside soft tissues and muscles during surgery for back pain.

Compared to back pain, leg discomfort is better relieved by back surgery. After undergoing back surgery, many people still have back discomfort, especially if the choose Laser Spine Surgery.

Even if imaging studies reveal bone spurs or disk issues, it might be challenging to determine the precise source of back discomfort. Imaging examinations performed for various purposes frequently show herniated or bulging disks that are asymptomatic and do not require treatment.

Why are People Getting Back Surgery in Turkey?

People choose to come to Turkey and undergo back surgery for different reasons that involve affordability and quality of medical care.

The following back issues or problems might benefit from surgical intervention, according to Turkish surgeons:

  • Damage to the spinal disks as a result of normal aging (degenerative disk disease)
  • Damage to one or more of the disks that support the spine's bones (herniated or discs)
  • The spinal cord and nerves are compressed by spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column
  • Spondylolisthesis, which is a condition when one or more of the spine's bones go out of alignment
  • Vertebral fractures that could result from osteoporosis or damage to the spine's bones

Turkey Back Surgery

Types of Back Surgery in Turkey

Every kind or type of back surgery in Turkey has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here is an overview of the most performed procedures:

Spine Fusion

For persistent, nonspecific back pain with degenerative changes, the spine fusion surgery is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures.

Vertebrae, or spinal bones, will be joined by the physician during the procedure. This restricts their range of motion and the length of their nerves.

However, it is unlikely to restrict your activities during Spinal Fusion Recovery. The bones do not usually fuse entirely; however, this is uncommon.

Laminectomy

The most popular procedure for treating lumbar spinal stenosis is this one. A surgeon will remove ligaments, bone spurs, or portions of your back during this treatment.

Your spine may become less stable as a result of the treatment, but it also releases strain on spinal nerves and may reduce pain or paralysis.

You will most likely also require a spinal fusion if that occurs. Thus, physicians occasionally combine the two treatments if needed.

Foraminotomy

The purpose of this procedure is to alleviate discomfort brought on by a compressed spinal nerve.

To increase the area where nerves leave your spine, the surgeon makes incisions at the sides of your vertebrae.

The additional space might lessen your discomfort and decrease pressure on your nerves. Your spine may become less stable after this treatment, much like after a laminectomy.

Therefore, the surgeon could do a spinal fusion concurrently. You will require more time to recuperate as a result.

Discectomy

Back discomfort can occasionally be caused by a disk, which is the cushion between your vertebrae, slipping out of position and pressing on a spinal nerve.

A discectomy may occasionally be a component of a more extensive procedure that also involves spinal fusion, laminectomy, or foraminotomy.

The surgeon removes all or part of the disk during a discectomy. They might be able to perform the procedure with a little incision called a microdiscectomy, or they could need to create a large one in your back.

The most common surgical method for lumbar disc herniation is microdiscectomy, which is carried out under an operating microscope with a smaller incision than an open discectomy.

Disc Replacement

A prosthetic spinal disc is inserted between your vertebrae after the injured one is removed by a surgeon.

This allows your spine to continue moving, unlike fusion. Additionally, recovery can be quicker than with a spinal fusion.

However, there is a remote possibility that the replacement disk may slide or move and need to be fixed.

Back Surgery Turkey

Pros and Cons of Back Surgery

The outcome is frequently more than just a reduction in discomfort or pain levels in the back region. Your mobility will be enhanced for sure. You also will notice other pros such as:

  • You're in better physical shape.
  • You feel happier.
  • The amount of pain medication you take is reduced.
  • You can resume your job.
  • At work, you're more productive.

The majority of patients who have back surgery experience little side effects. However, there are certain cons or disadvantages that you may face, such as:

  • Bleeding or infection
  • Blood clots in your lungs or legs
  • Disc herniation
  • Nerve damage and weakness or paralysis
  • Rare major issues such as heart attack or stroke

Back Pain Surgery Cost in Turkey

In recent years, Turkey has become the place of effective and cheap medical treatments, including back pain surgery.

Compared to many Western nations, Turkey is offering excellent spine surgery at far reduced prices. Depending on the procedure and other variables, spine surgery in Turkey typically costs between 5,000 and 15,000 USD.

In other countries such as the UK, the cost can go up to 22,000 USD; meanwhile, the cost in the US can go up to 30,000 USD.

Thankfully, there are direct flights to Turkish cities like Istanbul from major airports in the US and the UK, which gives easy traveling routes to many people.

Medication costs, doctor's fees, and other expenses are included in the price in Turkey. All things considered, choosing surgery in Turkey results in a remarkable 78%–96% reduction in overall expenses.

Back Muscle Surgery

Strains in the muscles are linked to a number of severe back pain conditions. As the area of the body that carries the majority of a person's weight, the lower back is frequently affected by this.

The majority of back and neck muscular pain problems arise when the back is severely stressed by an abrupt movement or impact. A person may also have pulled ligaments, which are unrelated to muscles.

In terms of back muscle issues, pulled or strained muscles are the most prevalent type. An excessive amount of stretching of a back muscle can cause injury and even rips in the back's muscular fibers.

Surgery is typically not required for back muscle injuries unless the muscle fibers themselves have been badly injured or ripped.

A combination of pain management, anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, cold compresses, heat treatment, and massage therapy can be used to treat the majority of back and neck muscular strain situations.

To strengthen the impacted muscles, stretches, and core exercises may then be suggested without any need for a surgery.

Interesting read:

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References

FAQ's

Conditions such as the degree of discomfort and the efficacy of conservative therapy will determine if back surgery is worthwhile. Following surgery, many patients report feeling a great deal of comfort and an improvement in their quality of life.

When conservative measures are unable to alleviate significant pain, weakness, or neurological problems, back surgery becomes essential. Surgical intervention may be necessary for conditions such as structural abnormalities, spinal stenosis, or ruptured discs.

When non-surgical options, such as physical therapy or medication, have failed to relieve chronic pain that interferes with everyday activities, consider back surgery.

Many people who have had back surgery report feeling less pain and having better function, so it does work. Success, however, differs according to the particular ailment and the general health of the individual.

If conservative measures fail to alleviate your crippling pain, loss of function, or neurological issues, you may require back surgery.

If your problems don't go away after several months of non-surgical therapy, it could be time for back surgery.

You would need back surgery if conservative measures don't work and you have severe pain or functional restrictions.

Spinal fusion, laminectomy, and discectomy are among the procedures that fall under the category of back surgery.

Numerous studies have reported satisfaction rates ranging from 70 to 90 percent; however, the success rate of back surgery varies depending on the method and the issue being treated.

A skilled surgeon's advice, past therapies, and your symptoms should all be carefully considered before deciding to have back surgery.

When your quality of life is greatly affected by chronic pain and conservative therapy choices have not improved for a long time, you might think about having back surgery.

The severity of symptoms and the lack of progress from non-surgical treatments should determine whether back surgery should be performed. This choice will be guided by a comprehensive assessment conducted by an expert.

If physical therapy, medicine, or other non-invasive therapies are ineffective for your severe pain, weakness, or numbness, you may require back surgery. For a diagnosis, a medical assessment is essential.

The choice to get back surgery is a personal one that should be discussed with a medical professional. Think about your past medical history, the intensity of your symptoms, and the possible advantages and disadvantages.

When conservative measures are unable to relieve incapacitating pain or neurological problems, such as in cases of spinal stenosis or ruptured discs, back surgery becomes necessary. An expert can provide suggestions.

Surgical intervention may be required for back pain caused by conditions such as herniated discs, severe spinal stenosis, or fractures that lead to nerve compression. Persistent pain and functional limitations are key indicators.