Back pain is a very common concern among people of all age groups. The spine is used almost constantly and as a result has a good deal of wear and tear associated with it. Thankfully, there are treatments for this pain. These treatments include several types of surgery.
The spine is made up of bones called vertebrae and discs between them. The discs are made of a ring of collagen with gel inside. This collagen ring can become cracked and the gel can leak out, causing pain. You may also suffer from stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal, or a slipping of the vertabrae, called spondylolisthesis. If the pain is severe or if substantial weakness is developing, then surgery may be required.
Basic surgical spine procedures include laminectomy, laminotomy, diskectomy, and fusion. In a laminotomy, a small portion of the bone in the back of the spinal canal is removed. In a laminectomy, the entire lamina is taken out. And in a diskectomy, a portion of the disc that is pressing on a nerve is removed. All of these procedures can cause a reduction in pain. Another procedure is called a fusion, and it helps stabilize the spine. The procedure fuses two vertebrae together with a bone graft and the use of metal supports. A number of new and less invasive surgical approaches are now available, such as the extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF). You can read about Dr. Atwater's experiences with the XLIF procedure here.
For many people back pain is resolved with surgery, but remember that surgery should be a last resort. When possible, it is preferable to begin with pain management and physical therapy before jumping to surgery. Talk to your doctor about your concerns if your back pain is not being controlled by other therapies. Surgery may be the answer.
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