Spine Surgery for Chronic Back Pain - When It's Needed
With any kind of pain, there’s often a question of whether surgery is necessary or not. This is especially true of back pain. Many types of back pain can be managed successfully with more conservative treatments. However, there are some cases where surgery is the best option. Today we’re going to dive into that topic a bit more. Read on to learn more about how to know when spine surgery is the best option for your back pain.
Common Reasons for Back Pain
At Comprehensive Pain Consultants of the Carolinas, many of the patients we see are referrals for back pain. There are a wide range of causes for the different back pain conditions we see, however some are more common than others. Among the more common ones are:
Spinal issues such as bulging discs, Spondylolisthesis, pinched nerve or Spinal stenosis
Accidents/Injuries
Pregnancy
Tumor
Lifestyle causes such as being overweight, poor posture, improper lifting technique or inactivity
If you are having chronic back pain or symptoms associated with any of the above conditions, we currently have Asheville doctors accepting new patients. We will take the time to review your health history and perform a thorough assessment of your symptoms.
Non-surgical Treatment Options
Rest assured that a referral to a pain specialist doesn’t automatically mean surgery. In fact, only 1 in 5 to 1 in 15 patients who are referred to [and are seen by] a spine surgeon actually ends up having surgery. There are many non-surgical options available that are specifically designed to target different types of back pain.
Some of the most effective non-surgical comprehensive pain solutions include:
Biofeedback, Cognitive Therapy and other pain psychology options
Nerve blocks
Nerve Ablations
Physical Therapy
Medication
Lifestyle modifications
To learn more about conservative, non-invasive methods for treating your back pain, visit our blog post dedicated to non-surgical options for back pain relief.
Surgical Treatment Options
Many surgical treatments are also highly effective when called for. The following conditions are examples of when to see a spine specialist to be evaluated for surgical options:
Tumors in the spine
Infections
Bleeding in the spine
Spine instability
If you are experiencing muscle weakness in the leg(s), dropped foot, loss of bowel or bladder control due to nerve compression, your specialist may try to apply non-surgical treatments prior to pursuing surgical options. View this short video where Dr. Edward Lewis, MD of the Comprehensive Pain Consultants of the Carolinas gives an overview of spine surgery for back pain.
Comprehensive Pain Solutions
At CPC, our first priority is to fully understand the cause of your pain with an in-depth diagnostic approach. Once we have a greater understanding of your pain’s source, we will build a personalized plan that will be monitored and adjusted regularly with care. Whether your condition simply calls for a different perspective on treatment or a complete treatment overhaul and surgery, we’re here for you. Call today to schedule with us.