What are some of the common causes of lower back problems? Four factors usually contribute to lower back pain: 1) Age, 2) disc problems, 3) osteoporosis, and 4) lower back sprain or strain.
Other pain symptoms that may indicate a lower back problem include: leg weakness, or numbness and tingling in the hips or leg, loss of bladder or bowel control (should this be the case, seek immediate medical attention for what could be a serious problem). Back to Top
How common are back problems? Unfortunately, statistics show that more than 80% of the population will experience a back problem at least once in their lifetime. However, you can reduce the risk of back pain with good physical conditioning. Exercises such as swimming, bike riding, running or walking briskly will keep you in good shape. There are also specific exercises for stretching and strengthening your "core" muscles (your back, stomach, hip and thigh muscles). Physical therapists are trained with a variety of exercise techniques that SAFELY help you achieve your goals. Exercises done improperly will only increase your chances of back trouble.
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What are the chances I can avoid back surgery? Obviously, until we complete your exam, we can't answer this for you specifically. However, we can tell you that the best way to avoid surgery is to find the right surgeon. We know that may sound a bit odd, but a good orthopedic spine specialist will be your best chance to find and treat your problem, avoiding unnecessary surgery. In fact, over the last two years, the SOS Spine team only performed surgery for 17% of our patients.
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How can I prevent back pain? Since aging decreases muscle and bone mass, as well as the elasticity of soft tissues, the best defense against back problems is proper exercise. Other common sense health tips concerning smoking and proper diet, especially for those overweight, can make a significant impact on your general spine health. However, two types of "prevention" provide the most likely opportunity to avoid back pain: 1)Proper lifting techniques and good "ergonomics" when sitting, standing, and walking; and 2)Exercise regularly to improve muscle strength, flexibility, and overall physical condition. When starting an exercise program, after consulting your doctor, consider doing so under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist to prevent injury due to improper form or inappropriate exercise choices.
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If non-surgical conservative treatment fails, what other options do I have, short of surgery? If conservative non-surgical treatment fails, treatment and diagnostic options include:
1) Epidural or cortisone injections that may relieve nerve irritation, combined with physical therapy. 2)Diagnostic tests such as MRIs or EMGs to isolate disk, nerve, bone, muscle, and other soft tissue problems. An extensive list of information on treatment options, including links to video tutorials, can be found in the Patient Education section on this website.
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At what point do the diagnostic tests and symptoms indicate surgery as the best option? Surgery is usually the best option if, for example, a disk fragment lodges in the spinal canal, causing nerve irritation or pessure that results in a loss of function. In this example, a procedure called a laminectomy would remove a portion of the bone to relieve the pressure. Depending on your specific diagnosis, your doctor should explain all your options, including the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques. For more complete information and the variety of diagnosis and treatment options, please visit the SOSspine.com patient education section on this website.
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What are the types of spinal fusion surgery, and how do I know if it should be done from the front or the back? Fusion is typically done either on the neck (cervical fusion), or on the lower back (lumbar fusion). Fusion can be done from the front (anterior) or the back (posterior). Your orthopedic surgeon will explain the best approach for you. Back to Top
What's the difference between an orthopedic surgeon and a neurosurgeon? Using both non-surgical and surgical techniques, orthopedic surgeons deal with musculoskeletal ailments. These ailments include trauma (injuries), overuse, arthritis, and other spinal disorders and deformities. Neurosurgery treats central, peripheral nervous system, and spinal column diseases. Back to Top
What's the difference between kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty? Plasty is a term that means plastic or restorative surgery. Both operations are used to repair fractures in the main body of the vertebra. Kyphoplasty is actually a type of vertebroplasty.
Vertebroplasty is the injection of bone cement into the fractured vertebral body. A long, thin needle is inserted through the skin into the bone. The cement is injected through the needle into the bone.
With kyphoplasty a deflated balloon is put through the needle into the fractured bone. The balloon is inflated to restore the size and shape of the collapsed bone. Then the bone filler cement is injected. With the kyphoplasty, the some of the height of the bone is restored.
Both methods are very technical. High quality imaging equipment is needed to perform these operations. The advantage of the kyphoplasty is improved spinal alignment. There's also less chance the cement will leak into the body causing other problems.
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