Back surgery is generally something that patients either hope to avoid, or desperately pursue. No matter which camp you fall into, if you’ve recently been diagnosed with a degenerative spinal condition, you’re probably curious about whether you’ll eventually require surgery. For specific information regarding your unique health, you should make an appointment and discuss your concerns with your physician. However, this article will provide general information about back surgery and which patients might be considered candidates.

Conditions Treated with Back Surgery

Almost all degenerative spinal conditions are treatable with surgery. That’s not to say that surgery will cure these conditions, but it can sometimes prove successful at mitigating patients’ pain and discomfort. Physicians sometimes recommend surgery for patients who have been diagnosed with adult-onset scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, spinal arthritis, and spondylolisthesis, among other degenerative spinal conditions.

When Surgery Becomes an Option

Merely receiving a diagnosis for a degenerative spinal condition does not necessarily mean that you’ll be a candidate for an operation. Back surgery is typically reserved for patients whose symptoms have persisted despite conservative, nonsurgical treatment. Your physician will likely have you follow a regimen of conservative treatment before he or she will entertain the thought of recommending surgery. Some common nonsurgical treatments include physical therapy, lifestyle modifications (losing weight, quitting smoking, etc.), thermotherapy/cryotherapy, and over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Deciding Whether or Not to Undergo Back Surgery

If conservative treatments have proven ineffective, your physician may recommend surgery. Before you consent to an operation, be sure to consider the surgery’s associated drawbacks. For instance, if your physician recommends an open back surgery, you should be aware of the fact that may need to spend several nights in the hospital, you’ll face a long and arduous recovery, and you may need to miss several weeks of work. You’ll also be at risk for developing failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), which is the continuation or worsening of symptoms even after surgery.

Explore Your Options

If you find that open back surgery presents too many disadvantages, you may want to ask your physician if you’re a candidate for a minimally invasive procedure. These procedures are performed endoscopically, through very small incisions (generally less than one inch long) and – unlike open back surgeries – don’t require the dissection of any musculature. In turn, you’ll face a much easier rehabilitation and could return to your daily activities in only a few days or weeks. Some patients even experience relief immediately following these procedures.

When to Seek a Second Opinion

No matter how much you trust your physician, it would be in your best interest to receive a second opinion before consenting to any operation. There could be some conservative treatments that your physician has overlooked, and one of these treatments could be the magic bullet, so to speak. There’s also a chance that your physician misread your X-ray, MRI, or CT scan, and has misdiagnosed your condition. Of course, there’s also the possibility that your physician was correct in recommending back surgery. But it’s always better to be safe than sorry, right?

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient back surgery.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute provides safe back surgery. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/back_surgery/lumbar/

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient back surgery.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: back surgery