When Back Pain May Indicate a Need for Surgery

If you suffer from extensive back pain, you may think that surgery is your only real avenue for meaningful, long-lasting pain relief. However, it is important to understand that surgery, generally speaking, is considered the treatment of last resort and is usually only advisable when all conservative treatment options have been exhausted. In most instances, a regimen of nonsurgical treatment can provide the lasting relief that you require without the rehabilitation and limitations associated with surgery. The important thing is that you do your due diligence, work with your doctor, and explore all of your options before you determine the best course of treatment for your unique condition. The Cause of Your Discomfort Back pain can be caused by a number of different factors. What gets frustrating, however, is when you aren’t certain of the source of the issue. If your back is stiff from a poor night’s sleep or the aftermath of a sports-related injury, you can usually accept the symptom and be confident that the problem will abate with a little time. However, if your pain is sporadic or appeared seemingly out of nowhere, it is only natural for you to be frustrated and concerned. The truth of the matter is that some degree of back pain is a fairly common side effect of the aging process and may indicate little more than the natural deterioration of the components that make up the spinal column. A variety of different conditions associated with this degeneration can develop depending on the location and extent of the problem, including herniated discs, bulging discs, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and more. Noninvasive Conservative Treatment Options In all but the most severe cases, treatment of persistent back pain is usually first attempted with a regimen of conservative, nonsurgical treatment. The goal of this treatment isn’t to cure the problem – you can’t reverse the aging process, after all – but rather to reduce strain on the back and manage pain. The trick here is to find the right combination of conservative treatment that will give you the best opportunity for lasting relief. That said, it is exceedingly important that you work closely with your doctor in determining the right course of treatment because your condition, age, overall health, lifestyle, and other contributing factors are important considerations when determining how to best manage your symptoms. After all, what works for one individual may not work or be as effective for another. While treatment will vary from patient to patient, some combination of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hot/cold therapy, low-impact exercise, stretching, and limited rest will undoubtedly be recommended. Many individuals also elect to complement their treatment with alternative and homeopathic medicine. Surgery In the event that all other treatment options prove fruitless, the prospect of spinal surgery may be considered. Yet, even if this is your situation, it is essential that you research your various surgical options. Back surgery varies widely, from a highly invasive spinal fusion surgery to relatively minor outpatient endoscopic alternatives. Open spine surgery, for instance, usually entails the fusing of adjacent vertebrae together to limit painful movement in the region. This course of treatment requires intensive physical therapy and several months of rehabilitation. A minimally invasive spine procedure, by comparison, is usually done on an outpatient basis and may only require days or weeks of recovery time. The only way to know for sure what type of treatment is best for you is to speak with several doctors, receive second and third opinions, and never consent to a surgery until you are comfortable with the doctor, procedure, and recovery process.