People with back pain often fear that their condition will lead to invasive spine surgery. If you've had family members who have undergone this procedure, your fear might be compounded. However, there are many ways to reduce the chances that you'll need spine surgery in the case of back pain.
We're going to explore how chronic exercise, supplementation, and medical treatments can all work together to prevent or even reverse spinal issues while preventing surgical intervention.
How Can I Reduce Risk for Spinal Surgery?
The first thing to do to identify the best solutions to avoid back surgery is to find out if you have a genetic disposition for spinal problems. If so, there are a few things you can do to avoid or reverse back pain before surgery is required.
Exercises and Other Therapies:
Do you see your back pain as a symptom of a greater health problem, or do you just want it gone? If you answer that your back pain is just one symptom of a much larger problem, take steps to address the cause. Ensure that you're getting enough vitamins in your diet. Magnesium helps relax the muscles, and Vitamin D helps with bone health. You should also be exercising regularly and getting enough sleep if possible. Instead of sitting on the couch all day, stand up every hour or so and stretch.
Nutritional Supplements:
Do you need vitamins or minerals that your diet can't provide? There are a variety of supplements that you can take that will help protect your body from disease and promote optimal health. The most common examples are vitamin C, D, E, and B vitamins. But there are dozens of other items on the list. In addition to vitamins and minerals, many supplements have been developed to address specific conditions such as brain health, heart health, bone strength, liver function, and more. If you're unsure about which supplements to take for your state or if you feel that what you're currently taking is not working well enough, talk with a medical professional about the best options for your needs.
Surgical Treatments:
Do you have a condition that has progressed so far that it could cause significant health problems or possibly death if left untreated? For example, a herniated disc might have pierced the spinal cord, which would need to be addressed right away if there was any hope of preserving function. In this case, consult with a medical professional about the best spinal surgery options for your situation. In most cases, evidence suggests that these procedures can help with back pain. However, the benefits of surgery may only be temporary-significantly if you do not change your lifestyle habits.
Osteopathic Spinal Treatments:
Osteopathic treatments for back pain are designed to improve the health of the body's soft tissues. These techniques work by relieving tension in the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones that are causing pain in your back. These therapies can also help to decrease inflammation of the tissue by using manipulative techniques. Osteopathy is most effective when combined with other treatments such as massage, acupuncture, or other suitable therapies.
Types of surgeries
Spinal surgeries are usually performed to correct the source of the pain, either by repairing portions of the spine that have become damaged or by removing parts of it that have eroded away.
1. Decompressive laminectomy: Decompressive laminectomy is a surgical procedure used to help relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerves caused by a herniated disc. The process involves removing the lamina and part of the bone that covers it (vertebrae). A decompressive laminectomy medical device allows blood to flow out of the area where nerve compression is occurring.
2. Facetectomy: Approximately 30% of lumbar facet joints are arthritic, degenerative, or otherwise diseased. A laminectomy is required to remove the disc which communicates between the facet joints. The surgeon then cuts away any problematic bone that may exist in one or more of these intersections. When done by an experienced surgeon, this procedure results in a successful recovery rate of 90%. However, recovery rates drop significantly when performed by less experienced surgeons. Failure to achieve fusion is also not unusual with this procedure.
3. Spinal Fusion: Fusion of the vertebrae at the site of an anterior element of the lumbar spine is performed to correct conditions such as instability, fracture, or herniation. The procedure requires discectomy followed by fusion of both adjacent vertebrae using bone grafts or plates. The surgeon will insert screws into each vertebra and then apply bone graft harvested from one's hip into the area that needs assistance. There are various surgical approaches to fusion depending on the type of condition being treated.
The Role of Exercise in Preventing Back Pain
While many people have been told that exercise can help reduce your risk for back pain, it appears that this is not always the case. In general, the more vigorous the activity and the longer it lasts, the greater the risk becomes. A review of studies on exercise and back pain reveals that most research supports the fact that any amount of exercise is beneficial for preventing back pain. However, the results are even more impressive when it comes to people who engage in sports-related activities-and even more so for those who participate in competitive sports. The only type of activity that appears to increase your risk for developing back pain is repetitive lifting.
Conclusion
Following these steps will help you to get back on the road to recovery. While there are many different ways to treat your back pain, the most effective way is often to exercise. The exercises should work out the muscles in your lower back while also stretching them out.
Start with just gently stretches while you're trying to get the hang of it. Once you've gotten used to doing these stretches, you can start doing more intense muscle strengthening exercises. Your doctor or physical therapist will be able to help you develop a tailored program for your injury or condition.
