Back Surgery

Ever since man learned to walk upright, there have been problems associated with the human back. Some back pain is minor and can be described as an ache, but when back pain becomes crippling, back surgery is oftentimes indicated.

Of course prior to considering back surgery, the problems may be alleviated by using such things as heat, ice, anti-inflammatory medication, gentle massages and physical therapy. When these common conservative methods fail after being given a reasonable time, back surgery is next.

Indications For Back Surgery

Back surgery is usually indicated when the spinal cord is compressed, a nerve is pinched, or the Dr. perceives that there is too much or too little movement linking the spinal bones.

If there is nerve injures and you experience pain that spreads out down your arm or your leg, this may point out that sciatic damage. Numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs or arms is another sign.

The human back is made up of vertebrae. These are your backbones. Spongy flexible disks composed of a flexible outer casing, but contain a gel-type center-center separation of these bones.  These are the pads of your vertebrae. In the vertebrae is the spinal cord and nerves pass through the various gaps in the spinal column.

Like stomach surgery, back surgery also has problems. It appears that the various types of problems have lessened the total of space in the backbone, triggering nerves to be pinched. Moreover, as the body ages, the spine discs may dry and therefore decrease.  They can no longer serve their function as efficient shock absorbers.

At times, you may hear a Dr. refer to a ruptured or herniated disk.  This means that the disk has changed its initial form and thus nearby nerves are irritated.

Back Surgery may ease the anxiety on the spinal cord or nerves, removing portions of bone to widen the toe area of the vertebrae. Sometimes they remove the inner gelatinous center that separates the bones.

If the problem is truly astronomical, entire disks may be removed and the adjoining vertebral sections may be fused together surgically.  Sometimes, the surgeon may replace the damaged disks with artificial ones.

There are various back surgeries. As in all things medical are sure to get a second opinion by calling a specialist in the spine. The complex issues of back and leg pain in may need a team of doctors to properly diagnose and treat your illness.