Back pain is one of the most common reasons why people seek medical attention every year. Persistent backaches can hinder your work and interrupt your life. Deformities, instability, injury, and degeneration of spinal discs are some causes of back pain.
There are a lot of treatments (non-surgical and surgical) that can help treat or manage back pain. While doctors always attempt to treat back pain through non-surgical means whenever possible, there are situations when surgery is absolutely necessary.
If your spinal pain or issue is not treatable through non-surgical means, your doctor may recommend spine surgery. Depending on the underlying cause of your back pain, your doctor may recommend a variety of spinal surgeries. Here are some of them:
Discectomy
Discectomy is a surgical operation to remove herniated discs (also known as slipped discs). A herniated disc happens when a fragment inside it penetrates the tough outer layer and enters the spinal canal. The following are discectomy procedures:
- Percutaneous Discectomy – A procedure that removes part of a herniated disc that is causing pain due to nerve compression.
- Microsurgical Discectomy – A procedure that addresses herniated disc issues through minimally invasive surgical means.
- Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) – A procedure that removes a herniated disc located in the neck. It is also performed on degenerative discs in the neck.
- Lumbar Discectomy – A procedure that removes a herniated or degenerative disc that is located in the lower part of the spine.
Laminectomy
In a laminectomy, the lamina or the backside of the spinal canal is removed. This procedure is also performed on patients with spinal stenosis because it helps enlarge the spinal column. It helps alleviate discomfort caused by pressure on the nerve roots.
Foraminotomy
The foramina are openings where veins, muscles, or other structures can pass through to connect to other regions of the body. This surgical procedure relieves the pressure on nerves caused by the compression of the intervertebral foramina.
Corpectomy
A corpectomy is the removal of the vertebral body. Bone grafts usually replace the removed bones in a surgical procedure known as bone grafting. A corpectomy repairs and alleviates the pressure of complex bone fractures.
Spinal (Lumbar) Fusion
As the name suggests, two relatively small bones in the spine are fused together. Spinal fusion is usually performed when patients have spinal stenosis, a condition where the spinal canal is too narrow.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) is placed under the skin to send mild electric currents to the brain to block pain signals.
A non-surgical procedure which helps limit pain is an epidural injection. This procedure is administered in the area around the spinal cord. The dose of medication gives temporary pain relief.
Spinal Surgery in Ohio
At Orthopaedic Associates, our goals are to minimize your pain symptoms and maximize your spine function. We provide a comprehensive treatment program that includes follow-up care and a rehabilitation program. This helps get you back on your feet with full functionality as quickly as possible.
We are located in Westlake and Avon, Ohio. For appointments or other inquiries, please call us at (440) 892-1440 or (866) 362-7624. You can also request an appointment online.