Why would you need surgery on your spine?

Reasons You May Need Back Surgery

Bone spurs in your spine (these are often caused by arthritis) that are putting pressure on your spinal cord. A degenerative spinal condition like stenosis (narrowing of the protective bony canal around the spinal cord) that's causing side effects, like weakness.

What spinal conditions require surgery?

However, spinal deformity, spinal infections, trauma, spine tumors and some degenerative spine conditions, such as stenosis and herniated disks, may require surgical treatment. For the best outcome, it makes sense to consult a spine surgery team with plenty of experience.

What is the most common spine surgery?

Spinal decompression and fusion: It is the most common spine surgery performed in the U.S., and it's performed to take pressure off of “pinched” nerves and/or the spinal cord and to stabilize the spine.

How serious is a spinal operation?

Most spine surgeries are performed under general anesthesia. You will be given medication through an intravenous (IV) line to put you to sleep, so you won't feel pain during the procedure. Risks from anesthesia are rare but serious. These risks include heart attack, stroke, brain damage, and death.

How long is recovery from spine surgery?

It can take 6 months to a year for your backbone to heal. A laminectomy or discectomy removes a bit of tissue from the spine area. You may get better in 12 weeks. Whichever you had, care for your back after surgery usually follows the same general steps.

Spine Surgery What to Expect

How long does spine surgery take?

Benefits of Awake Spine Surgery

A traditional spinal fusion surgery with general anesthesia takes about four hours and requires a hospital stay of three to four days as well as IV painkillers. The awake spine surgery takes half the time and typically has patients out of the hospital within 24 hours.

How do you know when it's time for spine surgery?

Reasons You May Need Back Surgery

A degenerative spinal condition like stenosis (narrowing of the protective bony canal around the spinal cord) that's causing side effects, like weakness. Weakness or numbness in your arms and legs. Trouble walking or using your hands.

What is the success rate of spinal surgery?

Summary of background data: Outcome studies of lumbar disc surgery document a success rate between 49-90%. It has been shown that a number of medical history data and sociodemographic and psychodiagnostic findings are of prognostic value for the outcome of lumbar spine surgery.

When should you have disc surgery?

Your doctor might recommend surgery as an option for your herniated disc if: Your symptoms have lasted at least 6 weeks and make it hard to do your normal activities, and other treatments haven't helped. You need to get better quickly because of your job or to get back to your other activities as soon as possible.

Can you have a tumor on your spine?

Spinal tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Primary tumors originate in the spine or spinal cord, and metastatic or secondary tumors result from cancer spreading from another site to the spine. Spinal tumors are referred to in two ways. By the region of the spine in which they occur.

What is considered major back surgery?

The three main types of back surgery include spinal fusion, laminectomy, and discectomy. These surgical procedures can be very effective in correcting the problems causing your pain.

Is spine surgery orthopedic surgery?

It is important for patients to realize that both neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons perform spine surgery. Today, there is an emerging field of "spine surgery" that incorporates both specialties. Today there are a large number of both orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons who specialize in spine surgery.

Can I get disability for a herniated disc?

If your herniated disc causes you continuous, long-lasting pain, then you may be eligible for monthly financial assistance through the Social Security disability benefits program. Herniated discs in the neck and back can qualify for benefits if your symptoms are severe enough.

Where does it hurt when you have a herniated disc?

If your herniated disk is in your lower back, besides pain in your lower back, you'll typically feel pain in your buttocks, thigh and calf. You might have pain in part of the foot as well. For a herniated disk in your neck, you'll typically feel the most pain in your shoulder and arm.

Is surgery necessary for herniated disc?

Most herniated discs do not require surgery. In approximately 9 out of 10 people, symptoms will resolve over days to weeks. Some people who have a herniated disc do not experience any symptoms at all. Sometimes, however, the herniated disc presses against a nerve in the spinal column.

Can you live a normal life after spinal fusion?

Even people requiring bigger surgeries like spinal fusion are 90% likely to return to work and stay at work long term. While most people recover from back pain through exercise and healthy lifestyles, those who require surgery can expect to return to work and "get their life back" too.

Is back surgery worth the risk?

Studies have shown that up to half of the patients who undergo back pain do not experience lasting or even temporary relief, meaning patients can go through all of the trouble of paying for back surgery, avoiding complications, and recovering from the invasive procedure only to find no lasting relief on the other side ...

Is spinal fusion a high risk surgery?

Spinal fusion is generally a safe procedure. But as with any surgery, spinal fusion carries the potential risk of complications. Potential complications include: Infection.

Is spinal fusion a disability?

There is no specific disability listing for back surgery or spinal fusion, but if the surgery didn't correct your impairments, you might meet the requirements of a listing based on the impairments that led you to need back surgery or spinal fusion.

How painful is spinal fusion recovery?

As the back continues to heal, patients usually start to feel better and find they can take on more activities. The worst pain is generally over by 4 weeks after surgery. Pain is likely to continue to decrease gradually, but some patients continue to have pain 3 to 6 months after surgery.

How long does it take to walk after spinal surgery?

You'll be encouraged to walk and move around the day after surgery and it's likely you'll be discharged 1 to 4 days afterwards. It will take about 4 to 6 weeks for you to reach your expected level of mobility and function (this will depend on the severity of your condition and symptoms before the operation).

How do you sit on the toilet after back surgery?

Use an elevated toilet seat or commode to raise the level of the toilet. Do NOT lean over your legs while sitting. 2. Wear your brace while using the bathroom.

Are you awake during back surgery?

With general anesthesia, you're “asleep” during surgery. More accurately, you're unconscious: your brain won't respond to pain signals or reflexes, so you won't wake up during your procedure. For awake spine surgery, you get spinal anesthesia, a type of regional anesthesia.

Which is worse bulging or herniated disk?

Herniated discs are considered more severe than bulging discs because they put significant pressure on nearby nerves, which can cause intense pain, inflammation and difficulties with movement.

What does a neurosurgeon do for herniated disc?

An incision is placed in the lower back over the area where the disc is herniated. Some bone from the back of the spine may be removed to gain access to the area where the disc is located. Typically, the herniated part of the disc and any extra loose pieces of disc are removed from the disc space.