Aurora ZIP
Aurora ZIP is a minimally invasive procedure used to effectively treat back and leg pain from spinal instability. If nonsurgical treatment options have proved ineffective at managing your pain, Aurora ZIP can help improve your pain symptoms without needing to undergo major back surgery.
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Aurora ZIP Procedure
Aurora ZIP is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat back or leg pain caused by spinal instability. The procedure involves the physician making a small incision in the patient’s back where a small device (a metal spacer) is inserted between the two backbones causing the spine to be unstable.
This minimally invasive spacer works to strengthen and straighten the patient’s spine to improve their spinal instability and thus minimize their pain symptoms. Because this spacer acts as a bridge to essentially stabilize the two backbones, this procedure can be considered a spinal fusion. However, unlike traditional spinal fusions that involve rather intense open-back surgeries, the Aurora ZIP procedure provides similar results with less pain and a significantly shorter recovery time.
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I LOVE LOVE LOVE this office. I was helping my mom find a place for her arthritis pain, and I explained to them how bad it was. They were able to schedule me the same week! That's almost impossible at any doctor's office...and then add COVID..... I was thrilled. I took my mom, and everyone was absolutely so sweet and kind
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Dr. Rao. I can't find the words to tell you how much he has meant to me. I followed him from an old practice to his very new high tech office. They offer so many different areas of assistance to those with issues from nutrition to spinal surgery...and much more. His office is professional.
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Dr. Roa is such an amazing doctor! During my first visit he never tried to rush through my appt., he genuinely listened to all my concerns and then took his time to explain to me in detail all his recommendations and how they would help me.
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In the 3 years as a patient of Dr. Rao, it is my opinion that he is a phenomenal and extraordinary doctor. He keeps up to date with the latest treatment options, will sacrifice time no matter how many are in the waiting room to listen and explain. Dr. Rao has treated multiple patients with rare illnesses, and shows more empathy than any Dr. I’ve met.
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The entire staff from the folks at the front desk to the Nurse, to the Physicians Assistant to the scribe that records the visit for the doctor - (great idea so the Doctor can focus on the patient!!!)
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Completely the best care you could want the staff is so pleasant and caring and the doctors have true heart for healing, love being a patient here would give 10 stars if I could & absolutely the most caring during my procedure with Dr B
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Always friendly, courteous, and efficient service. From the ladies, who work the front desk, to the nurses and the doctors. I've always had a good experience with the Harrisonburg office in Virginia.
Krystal Shaffer
They scheduled my appointment very quickly so that I can get to help that I needed immediately instead of like most places having to wait two to three weeks to get in I called and was able to be seen the next day
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After transitioning from a pain and spine doctor in Columbia, MD.. The intake staff member at Pain and Spine Specialist made the scheduling a breeze. They were able to get me in within a week.
Rashawn JJ
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What is Aurora ZIP?
Aurora ZIP is a procedure that involves inserting a small metal spacer between the two vertebrae causing the patient’s spine to become unstable. This spinal fusion treatment, Aurora ZIP, is named after the name of the implant (the Aurora ZIP Interspinous Spacer) used to bridge the two vertebrae together. Bridging these two vertebrae helps to strengthen and stabilize the spine to ultimately reduce pain symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life.
The Aurora ZIP procedure is a safe and effective way to treat spine problems caused by spinal instability. Spinal instability, otherwise known as lumbar instability, occurs when the spine experiences an excessive range of motion between two vertebrae. This abnormal, heightened motion between these two backbones can create various low back problems and result in intense pain and discomfort.
Spinal Instability Causes, Signs, and Symptoms
Aurora ZIP is a minimally invasive procedure created to minimize pain caused by spinal instability. There are a variety of risk factors that can contribute to spinal instability, including aging, trauma, sports injuries, and arthritis.
Spinal instability can reveal itself through a variety of signs and symptoms, including:
- Stiffness
- Low back pain
- Intense, sharp leg pains
- Weakness when walking
While it’s impossible to reduce the daily wear-and-tear your spine goes through, if you do experience spinal instability, you shouldn’t have to manage your symptoms all on your own.
The Aurora ZIP Lumbar Fusion procedure offers an effective treatment for low back and leg pain sufferers without having to undergo intensive open surgery that can take several months to recover from. Plus, this treatment directly targets the source of your pain symptoms without having to choose between 1) undergoing major surgery or 2) tolerating your pain symptoms.
How Effective is the Aurora ZIP Procedure
If you’ve tried various nonsurgical treatments like physical therapy, medication, and certain spinal injections without much success at relieving your pain, the Aurora ZIP procedure can be a great next step.
This is because rather than masking your pain symptoms, this minimally invasive procedure works to directly address the source of your pain: the two backbones causing your spine to be unstable. Inserting a spacer between the two vertebrae causing your spinal instability provides the support and stabilization essential to improve your pain symptoms.
Traditional back surgery can also be effective at relieving pain caused by spinal instability; however, back surgery can cause greater pain, scarring, and a longer recovery time compared to the Aurora ZIP procedure.
Overall, Aurora ZIP is the perfect next step for those who haven’t seen improvements with nonsurgical treatment options but also don’t want to undergo an intensive open back surgery.
What Conditions Does Aurora ZIP Treat?
Aurora ZIP is an effective treatment option for people struggling with one or more of the following conditions:
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
- Zip procedure for Spinal Stenosis
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Spondylolisthesis
- Trauma
- Tumor
Early diagnosis and seeking treatment are key to better managing your pain symptoms. If you’ve been diagnosed with one or more of the above conditions and have been struggling with chronic back or leg pain, consider Aurora ZIP.
How Long Does Aurora ZIP Work?
ZIP fusion surgery is a one-time procedure that provides long-term pain-relieving benefits. This treatment is considered a long-lasting treatment to provide pain relief for several months to years.
Depending on a patient’s rate of spinal degeneration and overall spinal instability will impact how long the Aurora ZIP treatment results last. If a patient continues to experience spinal instability and ongoing back and leg pain, traditional back surgery may be recommended to improve your pain symptoms.
Who is a Good Candidate for Aurora ZIP?
Aurora ZIP can be an effective procedure for those who haven’t found success with nonsurgical treatment options, yet don’t want to undergo major back surgery.
If you’ve been experiencing chronic low back pain caused by spinal instability, you shouldn’t have to tolerate your pain symptoms any longer. Rather than modifying your life around your pain symptoms, Aurora ZIP is an effective, long-lasting treatment option that can significantly improve your quality of life.
Contact us today to learn more about whether you are an ideal candidate for Aurora ZIP. Our team of advanced pain specialists will help guide you through available treatment options to better manage your pain.
What to Expect During Treatment
Before treatment, your physician will evaluate your medical history, pain symptoms, and discuss all pain relief treatment options to ensure Aurora ZIP is right for you.
During treatment, a small incision will be made in your back near the two affected backbones. From there, the physician will prep the area by dissecting tissue and muscle off the treatment area to make space for the implant. Then, your ZIP implant will be inserted in between the two backbones to help straighten the spine.
The great thing about this procedure is most patients go home the same day of their procedure. Plus, most patients need just one week of recovery time, making this a fast, safe, and effective treatment option.
What is Recovery Time Like After Your Aurora ZIP Procedure?
Most patients can expect to need about one week to fully recover from their Aurora ZIP procedure. Fast recovery time is one of the many benefits of the Aurora ZIP procedure. Unlike major back surgery which can take several months to recover from, patients only need about one week to recover from Aurora ZIP lumbar fusion treatment.
How Soon Will I See Results?
Aurora ZIP fusion treatment is a fast-acting treatment that provides near-immediate results upon completion of the procedure recovery timeframe. Patients can expect to notice significant improvements in their pain quickly thanks to the implanted spacer fixing the root source of the patient’s pain and discomfort.
Patients shouldn’t have to compromise their quality of life to tolerate their pain symptoms any longer than necessary. This is why seeking professional help to relieve your pain symptoms is essential.
While Aurora ZIP is safe and effective at treating back and leg pain caused by spinal instability, for patients who continue to experience pain and discomfort months post-treatment, traditional back surgery may be recommended.
Benefits of Aurora ZIP Lumbar Fusion Treatment
There are several advantages to undergoing the Aurora ZIP fusion procedure vs traditional back surgery, such as:
- Fast Recovery Time: Most patients experience a full recovery within 1-week post-treatment.
- Minimal Scarring: This minimally invasive procedure involves tiny incisions to insert the implant, resulting in less visible signs of scarring.
- Minimal Pain Post Procedure: Smaller incisions result in less pain felt by the patient.
- Minimal Blood Loss: Smaller incisions also mean a reduced amount of blood loss during the procedure.
- Outpatient Treatment: Patients can go home the same day, unlike traditional back surgeries that oftentimes require multiple days in the hospital to recover.
Because this is a minimally invasive procedure, there are a variety of benefits to undergoing the aurora spine zip treatment compared to major open back surgery.
Best Spine Fusion Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia
Our Pain and Spine Specialists are a team of advanced pain specialists committed to providing patients with the best possible treatment options to safely and effectively manage their pain. Chronic low back pain can be debilitating and significantly interfere with your quality of life.
We offer a series of lower back pain treatments Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia so you can take back your life and minimize your pain symptoms. We understand how difficult it can be to live with chronic pain and discomfort. That’s why we offer a series of treatment options for patients to receive the exact care they need to live a normal, healthy life.
Aurora ZIP is one treatment for low back and leg pain specially designed to directly address the source of your pain with minimal downtime required. This minimally invasive lumbar fusion treatment is just one of the many treatments we offer to treat chronic low back pain.
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Stop tolerating your pain, hoping it will go away on its own. Contact us today so we can help create a comprehensive treatment plan to minimize your pain symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
We Accept All Insurances!
That includes Medicare and state Medicaid.
Usually within one week of the initial call.
Appointments can be schedule by phone or through our contact form here.
At Pain and Spine Specialists we provide comprehensive pain care while offering the most up-to-date minimally invasive techniques. Our ethos is to treat each patient (and potential patient) as if they were a family member.
At Pain and Spine Specialists we want to provide the most efficient and pleasurable experience possible. As in all medical facilities, we have certain policies in place to ensure that you receive the time you require to address your needs as well as enhance your experience while in our care.
We encourage patient feedback to better improve your experience. We strive to create a friendly and warm environment where patients feel their voices are heard and validated.
Aurora Zip Lumbar Fusion Doctors in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia
At Pain and Spine Specialists we have a premier team of spinal fusion specialists in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia who can help relieve your back pain. Our mission is to provide you with comprehensive pain management treatment options to better manage your pain to improve your quality of life.
