Spine Surgery

Constant back pain might mean you need spine surgery. Your doctor might recommend an orthopedic spine specialist if you:

• Suffer from extreme back pain
• Show no improvement with pain medications
• Don’t improve through physical therapy
• Continue to suffer from chronic back pain regardless of the use of pain-relieving medication

Common orthopedic spine surgical procedures

Your doctor may recommend minimally invasive spine surgery or open spine surgery to treat your back issues.

Minimally invasive spine surgery allows your surgeon to make a small incision and treat the damage without manipulating the surrounding muscles and tissues.

Invasive surgery is any surgical medical procedure that requires entering (invading) the body by puncturing or cutting the skin in order to insert medical instruments into the body.

The most common invasive spine procedures include:

• Laminectomy: Doctors recommend a laminectomy to remove the thin lamina covering the vertebrae to increase space. This procedure helps relieve pressure on the spinal nerves.
• Discectomy: In a discectomy, the surgeon will remove a herniated intervertebral disc and relieve any pressure that it might be putting on your spinal nerves.
• Spinal fusion: Your surgeon may perform spinal fusion to correct any deformities or to stabilize your spine. The procedure requires the surgeon to fuse together two vertebrae using either an auto bone graft or a donor bone graft.
• Laminotomy: A laminotomy removes a portion of the vertebral lamina. This procedure removes the damaged part and relieves pressure on the spinal nerves.
• Disc replacement: Your doctor may recommend removing the damaged vertebral disc and replacing it with a new, artificial disc.

How to prepare for spine surgery

One of the success factors in your spine surgery is proper preparation, which you can begin a week beforehand by:

• Discontinuing the use of any blood-thinning medication, because it increases risks during surgery
• Continuing light exercise that will keep you mobilized and active
• Discussing the procedure at length with your physician and your surgeon
• Seeking family support and psychological help to prepare for the surgery

Pain management post-surgery

You will need time to recover after orthopedic spine surgery. Our healthcare staff will guide you through the healing and recovery process. You will be asked to refrain from many ordinary activities, including driving, bending, etc. We will refer you to a physical therapist who can suggest some gentle exercises that will expedite your recovery and improve your mobility. Last, our nurses will guide you on how to take pain-relieving medication and help you plan a diet that could aid you in a speedier recovery.

Get in touch with TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital to learn more about our orthopedic spine surgery procedures and to find a doctor who is right for you. We have a number of orthopedic specialists to choose from.