Chronic pain due to back problems is one of the worst things in the world to live with. Being in constant discomfort without relief is irritating, depressing, and maddening. There are some major procedures available to help relieve or eliminate this pain. Most patients are curious about whether the benefits outweigh the risks. When it comes to the risks of back surgery, you should understand your considerations thoroughly before making a final decision.
That is why Dr. Yashar and his team of experts at Yashar Neurosurgery show you the latest benefits of his cutting-edge techniques. We offer a comprehensive list of benefits and risks so you can see the results for yourself. Dr. Yashar is the top neurosurgeon in the Los Angeles area with regard to spine and brain procedures. While back surgery is a big deal, knowing that you’re in the hands of one of the top surgeons in the country can help you feel less nervous and more excited about solving your chronic pain issues forever.
Knowing When Surgery Will Help
The first step in deciding whether back surgery is for you is knowing whether you have the symptoms that would make you a candidate for surgical intervention. Some of the more common symptoms include:
- Pain that is radial (radiating from the arms to the hands, the back to the legs, etc.)
- Numbness in certain areas of the body
- Feeling of heaviness in certain areas of the body
- Loss of control over bladder
These symptoms can be prompted by a number of conditions. You may be diagnosed with a herniated disc, bone spurs, or fractures, all of which merit surgical intervention. Scoliosis is also a good reason for getting back surgery.
Understanding Your Options
There are multiple different types of back surgeries available, and some may be better options for you than others. At Yashar Neurosurgery, we offer 10 different spinal surgery options depending on the specific issues in your spine. In addition, we also offer MIS, or Minimally Invasive Spine surgery, which is a cutting-edge technique that eliminates many of the major risks of back surgery.
Yashar Neurosurgery also has a range of non-surgical treatments and procedures which may work as viable alternatives to surgery.
Benefits and Risks of Back Surgery
A Sutter Health report weighs the biggest risks of back surgery as the same risks that are typical of any major surgery. This includes excessive bleeding or infection. Depending on the type of surgery performed, you may also experience stiffness or lingering numbness in the area that was operated on.
Does your surgery require you to get an implant or a device put in? Fortunately, procedures involving implants have a very high success rate and pose little risks. There is a small chance the implementation can get dislocated, which would require another surgery to fix it.
There is a big fear that back surgery will cause paralysis, but be comforted by the fact that this is incredibly rare. And if your surgery is in the lumbar area, it is literally impossible for you to become paralyzed since the spinal cord does not reach that part of the back.
In most cases, the benefits outweigh the risks. If you are dealing with severe back pain or chronic discomfort due to a spinal issue, you may have no other choice than to invest in a surgical procedure. All of these surgeries have high success rates and can help bring down your daily pain levels significantly.
What to Expect Post-Op
Patients recovering from back surgery may experience a wide range of symptoms and conditions that typically go away at the end of the recovery period. The most common symptoms include a little bit of pain, as well as general numbing and stiffness. Overall, the doctor will likely prescribe a pain reliever or recommend an over-the-counter solution to help you recover more comfortably.
Schedule Your Surgery Consultation Today
At Yashar Neurosurgery, we can offer advanced, cutting-edge procedures and techniques to help rid you of your back pain once and for all. If you’d like to further discuss the benefits and risks of back surgery, please reach out to our helpful staff members. You can find us online or give us a call at (424) 361-0923 to schedule a consultation.
