The lower spine or lumbar spine is an intricate structure that has various joints, nerves, muscles, and even ligaments function together to provide the body support and also flexibility. Due to the intricacy the lower spine is susceptible to injuries.
The lower back or the lumbar spine is an essential organ required for daily activities like twisting, bending or even for sitting straight. Generally acute pain is caused by injuries to the bones or even muscles. At times inflammation may be at the site of the injury as it may be the body’s mechanism. Although inflammation at the lower back can be extremely painful.
What are the common symptoms that indicate lower back pain?
Chronic lower back pain can have a variety of symptoms. It can also range from mild to extremely painful, but any amount of pain in the lower back can be irritating and can also interfere with daily activities. Lower back pain begins something as mild and can gradually become extremely painful.
Depending on the underlying cause of the chronic pain the symptoms may vary accordingly, few common signs include:
- Dull and achy pain in the back that is usually only in the back.
- Shooting and pointing pain in the back at times can radiate to the thighs.
- Muscle tightness or spasm like pain
- Trouble in sitting straight or standing up
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms, reach out to the best spine surgeon in Coimbatore to seek immediate help.
What are the grades of pain in the back? How is it classified?
Depending on the symptoms and the duration of the pain, it has been classified into three different categories. They include:
- Acute pain: This pain is usually considered as the body’s inflammatory response to an injury. Generally the pain may be slightly lesser and can be manageable. After a few days or weeks the pain usually subsides on its own.
- Subacute lower back pain: This pain can last for about 3 months to 6 months. It can be the cause of a muscle strain or spasm. In case the pain is difficult to manage it is better to refrain from performing any physical activities.
- Chronic back pain: This type of pain can last for about more than 6 months and any of the treatment may not show any improvement. In such cases, a surgery may be recommended.
How do you know when the surgery is required?
Usually when the patients complain of severe pain, the first examination will be physical and the patients are watched for a period of time along with encouraging them to perform a few exercises to see if the pain is improving.
In case the pain does not seem to improve with physical exercises, medications may be recommended along with injections.
And even after trying all the treatment options the condition doesn’t improve in that case surgery is the best choice. There are both invasive and non-invasive procedures.
What are the different types of spinal surgeries that may be recommended?
Spinal fusion:
This procedure is one of the most commonly performed in cases of chronic spinal pain. During this surgery, the physician will fuse spinal bones, known as vertebrae, to restrict their movement and reduce the extent to which the nerves can stretch.
Laminectomy:
This surgical intervention is frequently employed to address lumbar spinal stenosis. During the procedure, the surgeon removes sections of bone, bone spurs, or ligaments from the back, effectively alleviating pressure on the spinal nerves and potentially reducing pain and weakness. Talk to your spine specialist to understand the spine surgery cost of various treatment procedures to make an informed decision.
Disc replacement:
In this procedure, the surgeon eliminates the damaged spinal disk and replaces it with an artificial one positioned between the vertebrae. Additionally, the recovery time for this approach may be shorter compared to a spinal fusion.
Discectomy:
At times, a disk, which serves as a cushion between your vertebrae, may dislocate and exert pressure on a spinal nerve, resulting in back pain. In a discectomy, the surgeon removes either all or a portion of the affected disk to address the issue.
Is spinal surgery a painful procedure?
Several factors can affect your postoperative pain and healing process after spinal surgery treatment. These include the specific type of spinal surgery you underwent, the severity of your condition, any existing illnesses or bone degeneration, your age, your level of fitness and mobility before the surgery, your mental state, and whether you have a history of chronic pain.
Generally, postoperative discomfort after spinal surgeries can be significant in certain cases, particularly during the initial days following the procedure.
What are the benefits of undergoing spinal surgery?
The major reason for undergoing spinal surgery is to find a relief from pain and be able to move around without any discomfort or pain. Other common benefits of undergoing spinal surgery include,
- Enhance physical fitness
- Improved range of activity
- Reduced dependency over any pain medications
- Improved productivity throughout the day
- Enhanced mood
Important Takeaway:
Performing spinal surgery can frequently present significant challenges and complexity due to the intricate network of veins, arteries, and spinal nerves. This type of surgery is typically reserved as a final option when conventional medications and therapies have proven ineffective in addressing chronic back pain, fractures, or as part of a post-surgery assessment to treat conditions like herniated discs, spinal stenosis, infections, tumors, and traumas. There are various benefits of undergoing a spinal surgery but the most important is being able to get relief from any amount of pain. Consult the best neurosurgery hospital in Coimbatore if you are facing chronic pain in the back.
