You are not alone if you experience persistent back aches that refuse to go away. Back pain is one of the most prevalent chronic concerns in the United States. If you have been suffering from significant back pain for a long period, it is reasonable to wonder if you already need back surgery. Though rare, Dayton back surgery is the ideal solution for particular concerns. Make an appointment with Kamal Woods, MD of Vertebrae®, to establish if back surgery is appropriate for your condition. This post, on the other hand, will give you some fundamental facts and warning signals to watch out for.
Does Your Concern Require Back Surgery?
Your neurosurgeon may provide surgery as an alternative if conservative measures are ineffective and pain impacts your life quality. Besides addressing back pain, surgery can also fix associated symptoms, including numbness in the legs and arms.
You are likely a candidate for back surgery if you have:
- Bone spurs
- A slipped disk that fails to self-correct
- A dislocated or broken bone
- Degenerative spine issues like spinal stenosis that trigger weakness and discomfort
- Spinal cord tumor
- Spinal infection
Furthermore, just because you have one of these problems does not imply that surgery is your only option for relief. It is difficult to pinpoint the source of back discomfort. X-rays could occasionally identify a disk condition that is not the cause of pain. Thus, it is critical to visit a neurosurgeon before considering back surgery.
What Are the Signs You Should Consider Back Surgery?
1) Chronic Pain That Refuses to Subside
Back discomfort is prevalent, but it can be difficult to diagnose. The intensity of pain solely cannot determine whether a patient requires back surgery, but it is one of the warning indicators to look out for. Chronic back pain is characterized by discomfort that persists for over six months.
Though you may anticipate acute back pain to fade away with time, you do not have to put up with it. You can attempt various conservative solutions including lifestyle modifications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, etc. If these conservative options do not offer the relief you seek, you should consider talking to your specialist concerning back surgery.
2) Pain Radiating to Your Legs and Arms
Backache accompanied by leg and arm pain is described as Radiculopathy or radiating pain. It is usually a sign that a nerve root in your spine is under stress. Surgery may be recommended based on the reason and intensity of the problem.
The two primary reasons for radiculopathy are herniated discs and bone spurs. Your doctor will frequently first suggest non-surgical procedures to address the radiating pain. Nonetheless, surgery is also extremely beneficial as a last resort. Most operations attempt to either eliminate the cause of nerve pressure or increase the space in the spinal canal, for instance, discectomy or a laminectomy.
3) It Is an Emergency
If an emergency or trauma triggers back pain and related symptoms, your neurosurgeon will probably resolve to do surgery immediately. Emergencies may entail accidents and complications from chronic illnesses like cauda equina syndrome.
Cauda equina could culminate into perpetual paralysis, thus deemed an emergency. It is typically caused by a tumor, infection, or continuous nerve roots’ compression in the lower spine. Typical symptoms constitute sexual dysfunction, rapid loss of bladder and bowel control, intense back discomfort, as well as lower body numbness or weakness.
You do not have to live with persistent back pain any longer. Even if you do not think your backache requires surgery, consulting one of Springfield’s leading neurosurgeons, Dr. Kamal Woods, is the best approach to obtain an accurate diagnosis and learn the ideal care plan for your condition. Call the Vertebrae® office or use the online booking tool to arrange an appointment right away.
