Employers lose more than 264 million works days from employees with back and neck troubles. 80% of the population make up those numbers, and most of them never do anything about it.
Experiencing back troubles? It’s a possibility your spine is the underlying issue. You may need to look into spine surgery.
Having operative work done on an aching spine relieves pain and increases mobility. People with ailing spines can’t do so much as take a walk for certain durations. Spine surgery helps you do more physical activities and cut back pain medications.
Not to mention the boost in productivity you get from a repaired spine. No more calling into work because your back hurts.
If you’re having back pains and think you might need an operation, read this. Here we discuss the different types of spine surgery and how to determine if you need one.
Most doctors try a number of back treatments before resorting to surgery. The goal is to ease pain and reduce lower body weakness.
Cutting into the body by any operative means is no guarantee, but in most cases, it works. If you decide to fix your spine through surgery, here are a few options to consider.
Of the different types of spinal surgeries, spinal fusion is most common. Doctors often promote this option for degenerative, nonspecific back pain.
The goal is to limit motion between vertebrae in the back without limiting your activities. This happens by joining (fusing) spinal bones together. If you’re a smoker, your doctor may encourage you to quit before undergoing the procedure.
Smoking can cause the bones not to completely fuse.
Discs in your spine act as a cushion between vertebrae. When they slip out of place, they put pressure on your spinal nerves by pressing against them. Chronic back pain is the end result.
In a discectomy, doctors remove the herniated portion of the disc putting pressure on the spinal nerve. Once removed, pain, weakness, numbness, and lack of mobility subside.
You’ll often hear this type of surgery referred to as microdiscectomy or herniated disc surgery.
Between 250,000 to 500,000 people suffer from spinal stenosis—lumbar problems. This is the narrowing of space in your spine. This narrowing puts pressure on nerves that travel up and down the spine, affecting the neck and lower back.
A laminectomy addresses this pain through decompression. The surgeon removes a piece or part of the bone or ligaments in the spinal column. When this happens, it decompresses part of the spine, removing pressure off the spinal cord.
This eases pain and weakness. If the surgery decreases stability in the spine, the surgeon may perform a spinal fusion as well.
After you’ve tried conservative treatments but back persists, consider surgery. Surgery often relieves pain caused by issues conventional treatment can cure.
If you’re experiencing disc problems or overgrowth of bones in your spine, it’s time for invasive treatment. Surgical procedures treat what pain pills can’t.
Excessing back pain and discomfort means it might time for an operation. Done let the words spine surgery stop you from getting your life back.
Consider these options and get back to life as you know it.
Let us help you. Request an appointment today and have a medical professional take a look.