The spine surgeon to seek for potential low back pain surgery depends on the kind surgery you are considering. For a more involved surgical procedure with prolonged healing time, a more concerted effort at conservative treatment might be reasonable. Keep reading to know the various kinds of spine surgery and the conditions and symptoms they treat:
Spinal Fusion
Surgery for treating low back pain can be a more extensive kind of back surgery with a longer healing period than back surgery for a pinched nerve. But, if you don’t get relief after 6-12 months of conservative treatment, a fusion surgery might be the right option. This surgery is used for addressing spinal instability associated with degenerative disc diseases, scoliosis, and other issues with spinal alignment. Neurological specialists will determine the right type of surgery for back pain.
Lumbar Decompression
If the majority of your pain is leg pain, it might be caused by a pinched nerve. When conservative treatment is not enough to resolve the leg pain after 4-6 weeks, an imaging study must be done to identify whether or not there is nerve pinching.
In case there is pressure on the nerve, a lumbar decompression spine surgery might be done to take the pressure off the nerve. Back surgery for a pinched nerve can often be performed with a minimally invasive approach and will usually lead to early return to normal function.
Vertebroplasty
This procedure is used for treating vertebral compression fractures. If the vertebrae fracture and compress, and are left untreated, you can experience excruciating pain and a possible hunch deformity. Such compression fractures can be due to an injury, or osteoporosis.
In vertebroplasty, the surgeon will insert bone cement into the fracture through a long, hollow needle. Kyphoplasty might be performed in more serious spinal compression cases. The bone cement is meant to strengthen the vertebrae, help prevent further collapse, and alleviate pain.
Discectomy
This procedure involves taking out material that is putting pressure on the spinal column or nerve root. In this surgery, the surgeon will remove the herniated part of the intervertebral disc that is putting pressure on the nerve or spinal cord. This will help address pain, weakness, numbness, mobility, issues, and balance problems.
Laminectomy
In this decompression surgery, the surgeon will cut away a part of the bone in the spinal column to expose the spinal canal. This procedure is meant to decompress a part of the spine and remove pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
