The Importance of Spinal Surgery as a Solution used to help with the Back Pain
One of the most common problems associated with chronic back pains is usually caused by injuries or issues that have to with the spinal cord. There are many reasons as to why one may require back surgery to correct the underlying problem to fix your spinal cord. The first step after seeing your doctor is to discuss the matter extensively with New Jersey’s top rated spine specialist. It is again important to know the different grounds that determine whether you need to fix your spine through surgery due to the following reasons:
- When a disk in the spine slips and does not align on its own.
- Dislocation or broken bone along the spine.
- When having trouble when walking.
- Numbness or weakness in the arms or legs.
- Bone spurs that may arise due to arthritis in your spine.
- Spinal cord tumors.
- Spine infection.
- No control of the bowel and bladder due to nerve problems from your back.
The Different Types of Back Surgery
Once you speak to your surgeon about your back problem and find back surgery as an option to cure the pain, the next step is usually to determine what kind of surgical procedure that can be undertaken. This is because various types of spinal cord surgeries can be performed according to the underlying problem of the patient. The operations include Spinal fusion, Laminectomy, and Discectomy, where they are explained in details below.
Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion surgery is one of the most common types of surgical procedures that are conducted to relieve chronic back pains in patients. While the cause of pain may be non-specific, the surgery helps to fuse the bones as moving vertebrae are what aggravates the pain when one bends, twists, or lifts weights. The operation involves joining of spinal bones known as vertebrae to form a single unmoving unit that helps to stop the mobility of the bones, hence relieving pain.
Discectomy
When the cause of back pain is determined as having your disk in the spinal cord out of its normal place, the discectomy surgery is performed. The disk, which acts as a cushion between your vertebrae, is where the pain arises if it slips out of place causing pressure to the spinal nerve. Discectomy surgery, therefore, seeks to address the issue through partial or complete removal of the disk mainly by performing a microscopic operation known as Micro discectomy.
Laminectomy
This kind of surgery is usually standard for individuals who have lumbar spinal stenosis. The surgical procedure is carried out to increase the spinal column by taking out the lamina otherwise referred to as plates of bone spurs and ligaments to reduce pressure on spinal nerves. What’s more, while the procedure may help in reduction of pain, it may result to a less stable spine where if this happens, the doctor may perform a spinal fusion surgery to fix the problem.
Some of the Benefits of Having the Back Surgery to the Patient
- It increases mobility, and one can move around better.
- You become more productive as you can do more without having to worry about a backache.
- You become more physically fit.
- It kills the pain permanently as opposed to taking pain killers as a temporal pain reliever.
- You generally become more energetic and can do more work.
