Most people opt for spinal fusion and other procedures, but do they need the surgeries? In most cases, individuals opt for surgery when they feel prolonged pain, such as sciatica which radiates around the pelvic region and lower limbs. However, they should consider remedies such as epidural injection or physical therapy before seeking surgery from facilities such as McNulty Spine. Surgery has complications; in most cases, spinal fusion does not offer long-lasting solutions for your back problems and could result in unexpected side effects. Thus, you should seek spine surgery to deal with these issues.
If The Medications Are Not Working
The first approach to dealing with back pain might be taking medications to alleviate the pain. However, you should avoid medications such as opioids as they are likely to cause addiction. The body develops resistance to the medications with each dose, and you need higher doses. Eventually, you might become reliant on the opioids and not feel extreme pain if you don’t take them.
Alternatively, you may opt for nerve-blocking epidural injections administered directly to the injured areas. The epidural injections as a diagnostic tool and let the doctor know if the pain comes from the back or any other body part. Additionally, the injection subsides the pain, making it easy to go on with everyday activities. It may delay the possibility of surgery or prevent the need for one eventually. It increases the range of motion at the back and alleviates chronic pain.
Spinal Stenosis
You would need spinal fusion to deal with spinal stenosis, a condition that narrows the spinal area’s spaces. The condition is associated with aging and results from bulging discs and the overgrowth of ligaments and bones, which exert pressure on the nerves resulting in pain. Spinal stenosis causes pain when you stand and subside when you sit. The pain will get worse when you lean back and improve when you lean forward. It would result in pain in the groin, buttocks, upper thighs, and legs.
Herniated Discs
Herniated discs press the nerves on the spine and occur when the back discs bulge. You may need spinal fusion to deal with the bulging discs as they would press the nerves at the back. The herniated discs affect the cushioning between the discs, resulting in extreme pain.
Trauma Injuries
Trauma injuries that affect the back might result in chronic back pain due to tears in the ligament, muscles, and broken bones. Additionally, it may result in frozen shoulders and neck issues. Surgery will alleviate the discomfort associated with trauma injuries on the back.
Chronic Lower Back Pain and Reduced Range Of Motion in the Back
Chronic lower back pain might occur due to sciatica, which is a condition that results from the compression of the nerves. The surgery would correct the broken bones, ligaments, and muscle issues, alleviating the pain. Back pain sometimes results in a reduced range of motion in the back, thus limiting your movements. Back pain treatment also occurs without surgery.
Back issues might be mild or severe, but older people are predisposed to back problems due to aging. You may opt for medications and nerve-blocking injections to deal with back issues, but surgery might be ideal for certain conditions. For instance, you should opt for surgery to deal with spinal stenosis, which causes the narrowing of the spine. Additionally, you would opt for surgery to deal with chronic pain, reduced range of motion at the back, and trauma injuries.
