For many people with back pain, back surgery is the last thing they want to think about. All too often, people imagine a long, painful procedure followed by extensive rehabilitation that will put them out of commission for work, sports and normal activities for several weeks.
However, if you’ve been living with long-term back pain and decreased mobility, spine surgery can provide numerous benefits. Successful surgery reduces your pain, improves your functional mobility, and allows you to enjoy social outings and physical activities without worrying about excruciating pain. And if you’ve been living with pain for a long time, you may not realize now how much it’s affecting your mood, energy levels and ability to perform well at work. Additionally, advances in surgical technologies have allowed more spine surgeries to be performed using minimally invasive techniques, which result in shorter procedures and less recovery time.
If you’re considering back surgery, do your research first. Below, learn more about common procedures, the advantages of minimally invasive techniques, and when it’s time to talk to your orthopedist about surgery.
Learn more about the most common surgical procedures.
New technology and surgical techniques have opened the door for many spine surgeries (including the ones listed above) to be performed as minimally invasive procedures. While open spine surgery requires a large incision that cuts through muscle and soft tissues, minimally invasive surgery requires a small incision (as small as 3-5 inches) and is muscle and tendon sparing.
At Integrity Spine and Orthopedics, our surgeons perform minimally invasive procedures on an outpatient basis so that you can go home the same day. Less invasive surgery requires less recovery time, and you could be back at work and participating in normal activities within a few weeks after surgery.
Many back conditions can be treated with non-surgical measures. However, if you’ve tried multiple treatments without relief, you may be wondering if it’s time to consider surgery. The following conditions may make you a good candidate for spine surgery:
If you’re experiencing any of the above, it’s time to talk to an experienced orthopedic surgeon about your options. At Integrity Spine and Orthopedics, our board-certified physicians will perform a full evaluation, discuss all your treatment options and determine the minimally invasive surgical procedures that might be effective for your condition.
At Integrity Spine and Orthopedics, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons are specially trained in performing minimally invasive spine surgery to treat painful back conditions like compressed nerves, slipped discs, spinal stenosis, spinal arthritis, degenerative disc disease and spinal deformities. Our Jacksonville, Florida, clinic also provides pain management and orthopedic care services.
If you’re ready to get back on your feet and back to doing the activities you love, call us or reach out online to schedule an appointment.