Lower Back Surgery Should Always Be A Last Resort
Any invasive surgery is risky but lower back surgery is particularly risky and should always be considered very carefully. It should be an informed decision made only after all other treatment has been tried. Lower back surgery carries the additional risk of being performed on or near the spinal cord and is considered to be one of the most dangerous surgeries one can have.
Recovery from lower back surgery can take several months and can result in loss of flexibility to varying degrees. There are also many nerves that can be damaged during surgery that can lead to serious and painful complications. Any surgery that requires anesthesia carries with it an additional risk.
Bulging discs or slipped disc is a common lower back malady that requires surgery. There are many other issues that can involve the lower back that that is one of the most common surgeries performed. It is extremely painful and is usually caused by improper lifting. The disc material slips into the area of spinal cord nerves causing severe pain. A bulge can often be seen on the back in the area of the slipped disc.
There are many procedures that involve severing the nerves in your back that conduct signals to the pain centers in your brain and all of them are risky. Any procedure performed on the lower back can leave you immobilized and even hospitalized for months at a time. Physical therapy will be needed to retain as much mobility as possible.
Most back injuries requiring lower back surgery involve a crash or accident, heavy lifting or a degenerative disease. Back pain has been described by the majority of patients as the worse pain they have ever endured.
Most doctors today will try every treatment available before resorting to invasive back surgery. Many patients who opt not to have the surgery and some who do have the surgery may need to see a pain management doctor for the rest of their lives.
Being aware of the things that you can do to prevent back injuries could be the difference between you and painful months of recovering from surgery. Even the shoes you wear can cause back pain that could lead to something more serious down the line if left untreated. Always see a doctor at the first sign of any nagging back issue as it could mean something that is more serious than just a strain. Exercise can help prevent many injuries by strengthening the muscles of the back.
If you have a job that requires heavy lifting, back supports can be worn and are supplied by the employer. These are usually elastic belts with Velcro that you can wrap around your midsection and give excellent support to the back while lifting. It is always advisable to ask someone to help in lifting anything that weighs over 25 lbs or is of an awkward shape. Always bend at the knees, lift with your legs, and keep the weight distributed evenly and close to the body.
If you must consider lower back surgery, it is a good idea to get a second or even a third opinion to ensure that every avenue of alternate treatment has been explored. There are five types of specialty fields of medicine that you should explore before surgery. These include your family GP, an Orthopedist or bone doctor, A Rheumatologist specialized in arthritis and musculoskeletal problems, A Neurologist that treats the problems pertaining to central nervous system, and finally, a Neurosurgeon.
One of the oldest and safest methods of controlling pain and inflammation is ice therapy. lower back pain surgery Short-lasting ice packs deliver a hard hit of cold with a dramatic drop in temperature, which can hurt your skin. If there is blood or fluid found there, it most likely comes from a ruptured tubal pregnancy.