When to Have Back Surgery

Although it's not always a very serious condition, back pain is considered one of the most common ailments within humans. In fact, according to some studies, approximately eight out of ten individuals are affected with this condition; with symptoms that vary from a muscle strain to a staggering pain with the inability to stand erectly and therefore a limited range of movements. Whenever treatment is applied such as back surgery, its goal is to bring back the function and the strength within the back area as well as to avoid any re-occurrence of a back injury. This can be done by leading spine surgeon in Chennai. You should consult with them as soon as possible. 

Incorrect body mechanics, aging, trauma, and habitual wearing away due to use can all cause damage to the spine. Stress on the spinal nerves and injuries on the back can also lead to back pain. Some back pain sufferers tend to resort to back surgery whenever they feel consistent pain. However, the patient needs to decide whether surgery is the only and if it is what the consequences are going to be after the procedure has been completed.

The truth is that out of 56 million of Americans suffering from back pain, only five percent of these cases results in surgery. Back surgery is only required in a tiny percentage of back pain cases since most back-related conditions can easily be managed through the application of non-surgical treatments. This includes heat or ice compression, anti-inflammatory medicines, physiotherapy, and massage therapy. If ever these conventional treatments do not alleviate the pain at all, surgery can then be considered. There are some conditions that can only be treated via surgery such as:

• When the condition involves a compression of the spinal nerves, which causes a disabling pain in the back or a feeling of insensitivity on the back portion of the legs.
• If someone has a ruptured or herniated disk. These disks are the elastic cushions which separates the bones on the spine. And though this condition is not painful, a surgical procedure can easily correct it.
• If there are fractured bones (broken vertebrae) or an injury to the spinal cord which makes it unstable.
• If someone is suffering from a spinal condition that is associated with osteoporosis.

Alongside those conditions, bones deformities, fractures and other similar conditions may also require back surgery especially if they become too painful and then eventually cause nerve compression. A direct injury to the spinal column may lead to damaging the bones on the spine and may weaken the vertebrae, causing them to collapse or break. 

In some instances, a broken vertebra may heal itself without any treatment applied. However, if someone is already diagnosed with instability within the spine, some experts opt to mend it with the use of metal plates, rods, cages, bone grafts, or screws.

Before deciding to go on a back surgery, it is best to consider all of the options. Back pains are associated with complex conditions and it really requires a team of health experts to help with the diagnosis and assess the right form of treatment.