Surgical Options for Lower Back Pain

While back pain is very common among adults, that doesn’t mean you should suffer through chronic back pain for the rest of your life. Figuring out why your back constantly hurts is the first step in figuring out the best treatment solution for your overall health and well-being. In this article, your local spine surgeon Los Angeles experts will review the top causes and surgical options for lower back pain.

Causes of Lower Back Pain

In order to figure out whether surgical options are the best course of action for your lower back pain, you must first diagnose the cause. Some of the most common causes of lower back pain include:

Degenerative disc disease. This is a disease that can happen at birth and cause disc herniation over time, leading to constant pain.
Herniated disc. Due to injury or other physical trauma, your lumbar disc can move out of alignment and stick out of the outer layer of your spine, putting pressure on your nerves. This leads to constant pain.
Pulled muscle or fracture. Bone and muscle fractures can put undue pressure on the spine or the nerves around your back, making it difficult to stay comfortable.
Physical injury. If you were recently in an accident or suffered physical trauma, you could be dealing with chronic back pain.

While conservative treatments can provide pain relief and temporary healing, they may not be the best long-term solution for your lower back pain. There are some cases when back surgery is a necessary treatment.

Some of the most common and helpful back surgeries approved by the National Institute of Health include:

Laminectomy

This back surgery involves removing part of your bone that may be protruding or sticking out of the spinal canal. By removing this bone, the spinal canal grows wider and is less likely to be pushing up on your nerves. This can provide permanent pain relief as the pressure is lifted away.

Diskectomy

Patients suffering from a herniated disc are likely to receive a diskectomy, which is a procedure that removes the herniated part of your disc. Depending on the severity of the herniated disc, your surgeon may also remove part of your vertebra so he can more easily remove the ruptured disc.

Disc Replacement

You can invest in an artificial disc surgery that will completely remove your ruptured disc, replacing it with an implant that can aid in recovery and movement. Patients who opt for this procedure are typically dealing with chronic pain that cannot be relieved any other way.

Spinal Fusion

If your lower back is in pain because of a bone fracture, you might be a good candidate for a spinal fusion, which is a procedure that fuses both of your bones together. This keeps your fracture from moving and causing nerve pain, adding stability to aid with recovery.

Consider Your Spinal Treatment Needs

Spine surgery may be the best option for chronic lower back pain. However, there are other treatments you can consider before you opt for lumbar surgery. For example, you can invest in physical therapy and pain relief medication while you consult with your trusted spinal surgeon. When you are ready to consider your surgical options for lower back pain, get in touch with our specialists at Yashar Neurosurgery.

Learn more about your lumbar fusion surgery Los Angeles options and stop living with chronic pain. Whether due to a fracture or a herniated disc, your spinal pain can cause you to suffer through constant discomfort. You don’t have to continue living in this condition. Reach out to Dr. Yashar today and schedule your much-needed back treatment today!