Back pain is one of the most common types of chronic pain in the United States. A variety of treatments exist to help treat back pain including over-the-counter pain medications, physical therapy, yoga, and more.
Yet, sometimes non-surgical treatments aren’t enough to help you cope with your back pain. So how can you tell whether or not you need neurosurgery?
Try other treatment methods first
In many cases, surgery is often the last option because most cases of back pain don’t need to be treated with surgery. Non-surgical treatment such as spinal injections, physical therapy, hot and cold therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications can usually help.
Additionally, regular exercise and even regular massage therapy can also help to reduce back pain and can help to keep it from coming back.
Your doctor might recommend neurosurgery for a variety of reasons
It’s recommended to try other treatment methods first before trying neurosurgery unless you’ve suffered from a serious spinal cord injury.
That said, there are also a variety of reasons why your doctor may recommend you undergo neurosurgery for your back pain. Here are just some of the reasons why your doctor might suggest surgery as your best option:
- You have a dislocated or broken bone in your back
- You’re suffering from a spinal infection
- You have a degenerative spinal condition
- You’ve suffered a slipped disc and it isn’t getting better with other treatment options
- Bone spurs are putting pressure on your spine
- You’re suffering from weakness or numbness in your arms and legs
- You have difficulty using your hands or walking
- Problems with the nerves in your back are causing you to lose bladder or bowel control
- You have a tumor located in your spinal cord
Keep in mind that timing matters with back surgery
In many cases, back surgery isn’t an emergency. Many surgeons may ask patients to wait up to six weeks for back surgery for a slipped disc because there’s a chance it could get better on its own.
Yet, there’s also a chance your surgeon may suggest you get your surgery right away. Be sure to talk to your doctor and your surgeon so you know what your options are.
Where can I go for a neurosurgical operation?
If you’re suffering from chronic pain, you’re not alone. In fact, over 1.5 billion people are currently living with chronic pain.
If you’ve tried everything non-surgical, or maybe even a few different surgeries, and you’re still not seeing the results you want, you may want to consider a neurosurgical operation with Dr. Alex Taghva.
To learn more about neurosurgical operations such as minimally invasive spine surgery, cervical disc replacement, other neurosurgery options, schedule a consultation with Dr. Alex Taghva today.