Ask anyone who’s ever had to deal with chronic pain. It’s not just how much pain you can tolerate. It’s how the pain affects every part of your life. It challenges your ability to complete your work, daily tasks and your social life. It can disrupt your sleep – leaving you fatigued and miserable. It can decrease your mobility and weaken your strength. And it can become an emotional burden, bringing with it anxiety and depression.
By definition, chronic pain is pain that lasts for more than three months. Because of the toll chronic pain can take on your physical, emotional and mental health, it’s essential to seek help.
Pain specialists usually start conservatively – beginning with medications, non-invasive procedures, exercise and therapy as the first-line methods for treating and alleviating pain.
“Most episodes of spinal (neck/back/low back) pain resolve on their own with some over-the-counter treatments such as heat, ice, anti- inflammatories and various creams or patches. Other interventions such as a consultation with a primary care provider, pain management provider or physical therapist can also be helpful and those providers may make further recommendations,” said Jayson Neil, MD, Neurosurgeon, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission.
When these methods fall short or severe and persistent pain is involved, surgical intervention may be necessary and more effective – including spinal surgery.
“Ideally, spinal surgery for chronic pain should be considered after most reasonable conservative management options have been exhausted,” said Dr. Neil.
Finding the right spine surgery for each situation
There are a wide variety of spinal surgeries that can be performed, depending on exactly what the goals and targets are.
“The surgeries can be broadly described as decompressive or stabilizing, or a combination. Decompression is when an opening is created or enlarged, such as a discectomy or laminectomy. Stabilization is commonly referred to as a fusion, and may include various hardware such as spacers/cages, screws and rods. Each surgery is tailored to the exact problem and patient in an attempt to provide the best benefit,” said Dr. Neil.
Even a small spine injury or area of degeneration can trigger pain, weakness or serious disruptions.
A wide range of surgery types is available to relieve pressure, stabilize the spine and restore strength and mobility:
- Decompression procedures: To relieve nerve pressure.
- Spinal fusion and stabilization: To repair areas of instability or deformity.
- Disc replacement and motion-preserving techniques: To relieve pain and instability while preserving the range of motion.
- Fracture repair and vertebral augmentation: To help restore spinal alignment and relieve pain.
- Minimally-invasive spine surgery: To reduce damage to surrounding muscle tissue and support faster recovery.
Like any surgery, spine surgery carries a wide variety of risks
Factors like age, overall health and the complexity of the procedure such as spinal fusion can increase the chances of complications.
Risks commonly include bleeding, infection, spinal fluid leak, temporary or permanent nerve injury, inadequate decompression, hardware misplacement or failure, and the potential for needing additional surgery.
Overall, the best surgical outcome starts with a well-informed patient. While the risks of spine surgery are real, they are often manageable when paired with the right surgical technique and a dedicated recovery plan.
“The vast majority of spinal surgeries go smoothly, and patients do very well and are happy that they proceeded with the surgery,” said Dr. Neil.
Coming back from back surgery
Back surgery recovery time varies based on the procedure, your overall health and how closely you follow post-operative instructions, but most patients can expect a recovery arc that spans several weeks to several months.
“A patient who has a minimally-invasive lumbar discectomy generally goes home the same day and slowly resumes normal daily activities including returning to a non-manual labor job in about two weeks and then may resume all activities within about three months,” said Dr. Neil.
When it’s time to go home, it’s vitally important to follow the surgeon’s instructions on how to care for yourself while you recover.
To learn more about spinal surgery at AdventHealth, visit AdventHealthKC.com.
