Suffer from lower back pain? Here’s when to see a surgeon
Everyone suffers from back pain at some point in their lives. Unfortunately for adults, back pain has become a lot more common today than ever before because of the sort of lifestyles we lead. For the most part, episodes of back pain can be incredibly painful but they will disappear in a matter of a few weeks (usually 2-12). However, if your back pain persists, you may need to see a surgeon.
So how do you know when back pain is more serious?
Visit your family doctor
Before booking an appointment with a surgeon, visit your family doctor. The family doctor will conduct a physical exam which will show whether your back pain can be handled with non-invasive procedures or not.
If they think your back pain is caused by sore muscles and bad postures, they’ll prescribe medication and tell you what exercises may help and maybe even recommend wearing a posture brace. These doctors also tend to prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs that soothe swollen muscles.
However, if the pain is more intense, they’ll prescribe either non-narcotic pain medication or a narcotic pain medication for a limited time. They may even sign you up for physical therapy or recommend an experienced chiropractor.
Visiting a Chiropractor
A chiropractor uses mechanical means to soothe the lower back pain. They’ll provide necessary adjustments and one of the modalities to help align the back and alleviate pain.
If the patient responds well to the physical therapy and the chiropractor’s adjustments, they probably don’t need surgery.
In the case that the patient feels no relief even after physiotherapy and chiropractor adjustments, they will have to book an appointment with a spine surgeon.
When to see a surgeon
There are two main causes of lower back pain:
- Spinal instability
- Nerve pinching
A surgeon will look at an imaging study and assess the patient’s physical symptoms to determine whether a surgery is required or not. The imaging study will also reveal what kind of surgery is needed. In some instances, the patient’s back pain can be fixed with minimally invasive surgeries which don’t require hospitalization!
Endoscopic Laser Surgery
Endoscopic Laser Surgery is a minimally invasive surgery for the back. The procedure involves making tiny incisions in the back (less than an inch long) and inserting a thin endoscope (fiber optic camera) into the body. The images seen on by the camera will be projected onto a screen which the doctor will use to direct the laser. The laser will be used to remove inflamed tissue that may be causing the pain.
Laser spine surgery is completely safe and it’s minimally-invasive – you won’t need to miss a day of work. The patient doesn’t lose any blood and it decreases the chance of developing an infection.
Are you suffering from continuous back pain? Have you tried everything but nothing seems to work? Then head over to Laser Spine Center in Chicago for a consultation with our experienced surgeons. We offer effective laser spine surgery that is covered by more insurance companies.
Contact us at 708-966-8000 to book an appointment.
