Millions of people suffer from back pain. Thankfully, many treatment options are available to treat back pain. In most cases, it is caused due to other underlying factors. Doctors usually suggest medications and physical therapies as the first-line of treatment options for back pain. When they don’t work, you’re left with only one option, i.e., the surgical correction that helps you to enjoy a pain-free life.
Beside all surgical treatments for back pain, spinal fusion is an effective surgery that can help relieve or eliminate your pain.
What Is Spinal Fusion Surgery?
Spinal fusion is a surgical intervention where it focuses on combining(fusing) two or more vertebrae together in your spine. The fusing of the vertebrae eliminates unnecessary movement between them keeps them, which is the main reason for back pain and discomfort.
Spinal fusion surgery works effectively in alleviating back pain because there will be no overstretching of nerves, muscles, and ligaments after spinal fusion surgery. For back pain treatment in Hyderabad and surrounding areas, consult Dr Surya Prakash, one of the best back pain doctors in Hyderabad.
Spinal fusion techniques are specially designed to mimic the natural healing process of damaged bones. During the surgery, the spine surgeon places a bone graft or a bonelike substance between the two spinal vertebrae. To stabilize the fused vertebrae, metal plates, screws and rods are used to hold them together until they heal into one solid unit.
Conditions Causing Back Pain Which Can Be Treated Through Spinal Fusion
As one might know that regular excruciating back pain can limit one’s movement and hinders the quality of life. However, if you are diagnosed with these conditions and conservative care has failed, surgery becomes inevitable. You no need worry, as Spinal Fusion Surgery is very safe and can help you get enormous relief.
- Spinal instability due to trauma, infection or degenerative conditions
- Tumours of spine
- Scoliosis, Kyphosis and other spinal deformities
- Spondylolisthesis
- Post-traumatic or post-infective spinal lesions
Spinal Fusion Surgery For Back Pain
If medication, physical therapy, or steroid injections do not show desired results to treat back pain, a spinal fusion might be the best option for pain relief. The results for such a situation is secondary to the degenerated disc with micro spinal instability. Generally, it is performed while you are under general anaesthesia. A variety of techniques have been developed by surgeons to perform spinal fusion surgery.
The technique used by a spine surgeon depends on the vertebrae location to be fused, the reason for the surgery, and in some cases, the general health and body shape of a patient also considered.
Surgery Procedure:
The surgeon makes an incision to gain access to the vertebrae to be fused. There were two different approaches to perform a spinal fusion. When an anterior lumbar interbody fusion is performed, the surgeon will reach the vertebrae through your stomach. During a posterior fusion, the incision is directly made over the spine or on either side of the spine at the targeted location.
After getting access to the vertebrae to be fused, a bone graft is placed in between to fuse the vertebrae together. The bone graft is taken from your body or from a bone bank or a donor (donor graft). If the bone graft is used from your body, the surgeon makes a small incision above your pelvic bone to remove a small bone graft.
The vertebrae are fused permanently by placing the bone graft between the vertebrae. To stabilize the fused vertebrae until bone graft heals some metal plates, screws or rods placed to hold them together.
In selected cases, spine surgeons prefer synthetic substances on behalf of bone grafts. These synthetic substances (Morphogenetic protein) help to promote bone growth and also speed the fusion process of the vertebrae.
Results Of A Spinal Fusion Surgery
Spinal fusion is a typical procedure and is an effective treatment option for the above conditions. It will be troublesome to sit or stand in one position for a long time after surgery; you should learn new techniques to walk, relax, and stand safely, as suggested by the physio. One is given pain medication for some weeks after surgery. After 4 to 6 weeks, you can get back to normal and simple activities. With medication by following some other tips suggested by the spine surgeon, it may take anywhere between 6 months to a year to heal completely.
Symptoms like pain and discomfort will gradually improve after surgery. You will gain strength and self-confidence in your body movement. Generally, spine surgeons suggest physiotherapy after fusion surgery. The physiotherapist helps you regain your spinal strength by making you follow a set of physical exercises. Spinal fusion under an experienced spine surgeon will have a successful outcome, and studies say that the majority of patients have an improvement in their back pain.
Conclusion:
However, spinal fusion changes the spine functions slightly by immobilizing one portion of it. They might become painful if they degenerate, and you might also face additional problems. So it would be best if you changed your lifestyle by quitting smoking and alcohol for better spine health after surgery. Being physically inactive or in poor physical condition, overweight or obesity can put you at risk of spinal problems. A healthy lifestyle maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly helps you to achieve the best results after spinal fusion surgery.
Live a pain-free and happy life. If you experience back pain, consult a spine doctor immediately. Dr Surya Prakash, the best spine surgeon in Hyderabad, can help you out with any spine problem. He had more than two decades of experience and treated thousands of people suffering from back pain.
