Usually, when you see a medical professional for back pain treatment, they’ll recommend conservative methods like physical therapy or medication. These methods may reduce your pain without the need for any incisions and potentially invasive procedures. However, these treatments do not always work. In these cases, spine surgery may be necessary.
Fortunately, many techniques used in a lot of spine surgeries are minimally invasive. Endoscopic procedures and smaller surgical instruments eliminate the need for large incisions through the muscles and soft tissue. This helps reduce pain after surgery, lowers risks of complications, and increases your rate of recovery.
How do you know when you need spine surgery?
It’s up to your doctor to decide if your body can handle the surgery and if it’s the best treatment option. They will examine the condition of your back and spine and review your medical history to determine if you’re ready for surgery.
You can make a few observations as well to help your doctor make a more accurate diagnosis:
- Your back pain has lasted for six months or longer.
- Your symptoms grow worse over time.
- You have difficulty bending or twisting your back.
- Medication, physical therapy, or chiropractic care have not treated your pain.
What kind of spine surgery can you expect?
The best surgery for treating your back pain will depend on the cause and severity of the pain. Back pain can be related to degenerative conditions like arthritis or it may be from a traumatic injury, such as an automobile accident.
We perform all kinds of spine surgeries at Florida Spine and Joint. Some of the more common spine surgeries we perform include:
- Spinal fusion — The goal of this procedure is to join two or more vertebrae together into one solid piece. This can reduce pressure off the nerves in your spine and improve the structural support of your spine.
- Discectomy — This procedure involves minimally invasive techniques to remove a portion of a disc between your vertebrae. This is usually done to treat a damaged disc that is putting pressure on the nerves in your spine.
- Laminectomy — The laminae are parts of the vertebrae in your spine that act as a roof over the spinal canal. Their job is to protect the nerves in the spine from harm. However, conditions like spinal stenosis can cause a lamina to grow more narrow, which puts pressure on the nerves. When this happens, a surgeon can perform a laminectomy to remove a portion of the lamina and take some pressure off the nerves.
- Disc replacement — If the condition of one or more of the discs in your spine is poor enough, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend replacing the entire disc with an artificial one. This procedure is usually accompanied by a spinal fusion when more than one disc needs to be replaced.
Visit iRISE Spine and Joint for spine surgery
Do you suffer from chronic back pain and haven’t been able to find relief from conservative treatment methods? Spine surgery maybe your best option. Contact us today to talk to one of our patient care coordinators about spine surgery or to schedule an initial appointment.
