Surgery should always be the last option when it comes to back pain. Since spinal surgery is serious, you should make sure that you know all the details about your back pain. Back surgery does not always relieve the back pain that you are having.
Most people experience back pain during their life. 90% of people who experience back pain will get better with either treatment or therapy. Only about 5% of people have back pain that leaves them with pain for longer than 3 months.
Back surgery is usually only done when you are experiencing pressure on nerves or your spinal cord, due to some type of problem in your back. These problems can start at birth or may be caused by some type of trauma to the back. Back surgery is only done in a small percentage of back pain cases. Back pain that slowly appears is generally from an existing condition that continues to get worse as you get older, while back pain that shows up immediately is generally caused by some type of injury to the spine or nerves that are in the back.
Conditions that may consider surgery:
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Kyphosis
- Tethered Cord
- Spondylolisthesis
- Radiculopathy
If you have any of these conditions and feel that you need to get surgery, be sure to talk to your doctor. You may also click your state on the directory map on the home page or call 1-888-BACK-RELIEF today to get more information on the best treatment of your back pain. If you do need surgery, it is best to know exactly what is to be done so you can know what to expect.
Here are some more common forms of back surgery and some general information regarding them:
Spinal Fusion: permanently connects two or more bones in your spine. Spinal fusion is used to relieve back pain by making your spine more stable if you have a damaged or degenerated disc.
Artificial Disc: is performed by inserting an artificial disc into your back. This is an alternative surgery to spinal fusion.
Laminectomy: is performed by removing bone from underneath the spinal canal. This decreases pain in the back by reducing nerve pressure caused by stenosis.