Back pain may seem a simple problem but it’s one of the most common health issues in the world and is suffered by people in all walks of life. Reasons for back pain may differ and include sitting constantly for long hours, unhealthy working habits and lack of exercise. Often back pain can be treated with medications and exercises. However, when these fail and quality of life deteriorates, doctors recommend spine surgery to treat serious and prolonged back pain.
Spinal surgeries are of various types and which type is better for you will be decided by your doctor after thorough evaluation of your back pain condition. Visit santostraumatologiamty.com to know about spinal cord conditions and surgeries. Here are some of the most common kinds of spine surgery
1. Spine Fusion
Spine fusion involves fusion of two vertebrae to increase spine stability. This leads to restricted movements. Stretching of nerves is limited with this surgery.
2. Foraminotomy
Foraminotomy involves removal of tissues that compress the nerves in the back. During this surgery, the surgeon removes parts of the bone that compresses the nerves in the spinal column. The surgery of formainotomy is often combined with spine fusion surgery when there is a possibility of instability of spine.
3, Discectomy
Discectomy is a kind of spine surgery used to treat the herniated disc in the vertebrae. The job of a disc is to separate two vertebrae. If in such a case, a disc is herniated inwards, it puts pressure on the spinal nerves resulting in pain. In discectomy, the entire disc or a part of such a disc is removed.
4. Spinal Disc Replacement
Although spinal disc replacement is not very common, it is performed as one of the latest surgical treatments for back pain. In this surgery, the damaged spinal disc present between the vertebrae is replaced by an artificial disc. Because of this surgery spine mobility is maintained and this surgery can be done without spine fusion.
Spinal Surgery Recovery Tips
Correct pain management after spine surgery can indeed help the recovery process, both from physical and emotional points of view. Anti-inflammatory medications, narcotic pain pills and Tylenol are some of the most commonly prescribed postop pain medications. However, patients who have just undergone a spine fusion surgery, should stay away from NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) because this class of medications stop the formation of bones, an essential part of creating the fusion.
Knowing about the different spine surgeries, you can undergo one of them more easily by preparing better physically and mentally, and recover fast too.