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Back Pain: 5 Kinds Of Spine Surgery

Profile portrait of man at laptop, stretching, backache position

Profile portrait of a young man at the desk with a laptop, stretching, backache position. Business concept photo, lifestyle

We often fall prey to pain and discomfort caused by an excessively sedentary yet hectic lifestyle, injuries from physical activities like exercising, minor accidents, or merely wrong postures.

Experiencing back pain is a common complaint among many in the country. It refers to any discomfort that occurs in any part of the back. It can range from a muscle twitch or swelling or tingling sensation when tried to be moved to a burning, shooting, or stabbing sensation gradually spreading across the body.

The real trouble begins when the pain does not heal with days of rest, and even worse when it radiates down the legs or becomes even more severe when we try to bend, move, walk, run, or do anything involving the lower body. It is then referred to as lower back pain (LBP). Men and women are equally prone to experiencing LBP, and it has been scientifically proven to be the most common reason for physician visits regarding backaches. Almost 60%–80% of adults experience LBP at some point in their lives.

Leading Causes of Severe LBP

Such signs lead us to medical practitioners and pain specialists for primary medical treatment involving drugs and physical activities, physiotherapy, or spinal injections. However, most severe cases need surgical intervention from the best orthopedic surgeon, a neurosurgeon, or both.

Common Surgical Procedures for LBP

1.      Discectomy

It involves removing the protruding (herniated) spinal disc to relieve any pain, irritation, or inflammation of the nerves. The surgeon removes either a part of or the complete lamina of a vertebra (the back surface of the vertebral column) to access the ruptured disc cushioning the spinal cord. A minimally invasive version of this surgery, called Microdiscectomy, is used to treat conditions like sciatica, where a particular nerve is known to be affected.

2.      Laminectomy

It is commonly used to treat spinal stenosis. The surgeon makes an incision on the back of the spine to remove the bony plate of the back of the vertebra or bone spurs that create pressure on the nerves running along the lower back.

3.      Spinal fusion

This process is used to fuse two or more bones in the spine. It addresses cases of spinal instability due to fractures, injuries, scoliosis, degenerated discs, or a combination of all.

4.      Artificial disc replacement

The process of inserting artificial discs is relatively new with limited applications. They are inserted as alternatives to spinal fusion surgeries or to alleviate pain caused by an injured disc.

5.      Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty

These procedures involve injecting a bone-holding or bone-binding material with glue-like consistency that hardens and strengthens the bone. These are usually used for treating osteoporosis.

Before opting for surgery, a person should carefully compare the odds of success and alternative therapies for pain relief from Coimbatore Ortho Hospital

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