When Lumbar Surgery Is Right for You

When Lumbar Surgery Is Right for You

The constriction of the back can often hinder or become an obstacle in daily life. Mostly this pain in the lumbar region or lower back can be eliminated by using prescribed heat therapy or physical therapy along with anti-inflammatory medication for a course of two to three months. If the prior treatment seems to cut short to alleviate the pain, the next best thing is to look into surgery. 

In case of serious injury to the lumbar region, especially to the spinal column, surgery would often be the resort. Getting a consult for revision lumbar surgery in West Islip can help ascertain whether or not you need lumbar surgery.

Back surgery can often run down the legs or up the arms if the numbness or pain does not respond to conservative modes of medication, which would require back surgery. Pain or numbness can be experienced due to the compression of nerves near the spinal column because of bone outgrowth or disc problems. 

The former can cut down on the space for the nerves to pass through the spine, while the latter involves the compression of the discs suppressing the spinal nerve and affecting its functions.

Here are the reasons why getting lumbar surgery is beneficial:

  • A dislocated or broken bone in the back.
  • Loss of bladder control due to nerve issues in the lower back.
  • Pain and numbness in the legs and arms.
  • When spinal bone spurs induce pressure on the spinal cord. 
  • A spinal cord tumor.
  • Infection of the spine.
  • Trouble in using your limbs.
  • Stenosis, which is the narrowing of the spine’s bony canal.
  • If a slipped disc is not responding positively on its own.

The type of back surgery is also necessary to be considered when it comes to the risks and benefit analysis. The popular procedures carried out are Discectomy, Laminectomy, Spinal fusion, Foraminotomy, and Implanted artificial disks. Depending on the cause and source of pain, the surgery will be recommended by your orthopedic surgeon.

The benefits of getting back surgery are restoring the flexibility of the back, improving mood, and reducing the use of medication. On the other hand, the risks primarily include the possibility of a blood clot, nerve damage, infection, bleeding, strokes, herniated discs, adverse response to anesthesia, and heart attack. The risk is also inherently dependent on the prior treatments and pre-existing conditions of the patient. 

Hence before getting under the knife, it is always recommended to undergo a conservative treatment method before surgery. 

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