Back pain is one of the most common chronic pains. If you are experiencing back aches that do not go away, you are not alone. The majority of back pain issues go away by themselves with time, within a few days or weeks, except when they don’t. If you have been living with severe back pain for some time now, you must wonder if you need some kind of back surgery. However, that might not be the case as it’s rarely necessary. There are many conservative, nonsurgical options available which include pain relievers and physical therapy but in some cases, surgery can prove to be the best solution for certain conditions.
In order to decide if back surgery is recommended for your particular condition, you must consult a spine specialist who will conduct an in-person physical examination. In this article, we will discuss when back surgery is necessary and what signs you should look out for.
You might also want to read: Who Is a Neurosurgeon and When Do You Need One?
Conditions that may require back surgery:
Your spine surgeon might give surgery as an option if conservative treatment methods do not work and the pain persists affecting your quality of life. Some conditions that may warrant back surgery includes:
- Spinal infection
- Bone spurs or overgrowth
- A slipped disc
- A broken or dislocated bone
- Spinal cord tumor
- Degenerative spinal problems such as stenosis
Having any of the above mentioned conditions does not automatically mean that surgery is the only option for your back pain. Therefore it is important to consult a spine surgeon as it is tricky to pinpoint the cause of the pain.
3 signs you might need a back surgery
Back pain is complex to diagnose as the intensity and severity of pain cannot tell whether a patient needs back surgery. Some signs which should not be ignored are:
- Pain that does not go away: A previous study revealed that 75 to 90 percent of lower back pain cases get better or resolve themselves within a month. If you are more than two weeks in and it seems the pain is still there, it’s time to visit your doctor. He/she may try various treatments such as:
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- Physical therapy
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Epidural injections
- Corticosteroid shots
If these conservative treatment options do not improve your symptoms, your doctor might suggest back surgery.
- The pain radiates to your arms and legs: If you have backache accompanied by pain in your leg and arm, you are experiencing radiating pain also known as radiculopathy. This indicates that a nerve root on your spine is under pressure. Surgery may be advised depending on the cause and severity of the condition. The most common reasons for radiculopathy are bone spurs and herniated discs. As usual, your doctor will first try non-surgical treatment options before opting for surgery.
- Severe symptoms: If your backache and associated symptoms are caused by trauma, a spine surgeon might decide to perform surgery right away. It may include accidents and severe events resulting from chronic conditions, such as cauda equina syndrome. It is caused by a tumor, infection, or prolonged compression of nerve roots in the lower spine. Also, it can lead to permanent paralysis and therefore requires immediate surgery. Its symptoms include sexual dysfunction, loss of bowel and bladder control, and weakness or numbness in the lower body.
Consult a certified spine surgeon
There is no need to keep suffering from chronic backache. Even if you think you don’t need surgery, consulting one of the best neurosurgeons in Los Angeles, such as Dr. Moksha Ranasinghe, is the best way to get the right diagnosis. Start living a life free of back pain. Contact us to learn more. Schedule an appointment on the website or call at (213) 369-4583.