The Spring Lake Chiropractor to see - Chiropractor Spring Lake

Spinal Fusion: Just the Facts

Backaches and sciatica image.

Most people have at least one episode of low back pain at some point in their lives. And many, in fact, experience chronic low back pain.

When traditional medical treatments, such as physical therapy, exercise and medication fail to bring about any long-lasting relief, a doctor may recommend spinal fusion surgery to correct the problem. This usually occurs in situations where there is degenerative disc disease, a herniated disc or a severe injury to the spine. Spinal fusion surgery is sometimes recommended to correct scoliosis (curvature of the spine) or other irregular curves in the spine.

What happens during fusion surgery? In a 2 - 12 hour long procedure, under general anesthesia, bone from the patient's hip, or from a donor, is used to graft two adjacent vertebrae. The graft is put in place so that the disc and joints between them are no longer able to move. The fusion forms a bridge, using bone, screws, rods and pins that link the vertebrae together. This provides stability to the spine and reduces pain. At least that's the intent of the surgery.

Risks involved? There are several: administration of general anesthesia, bleeding, infection, rejection of donor bone, blood clots, stroke, heart attack and nerve damage. Full recovery can take up to a year or even longer. The success rate may actually be lower in patients with diabetes and osteoporosis, those who smoke or are overweight, and those who may have had radiation therapy that included the lower spine.

Obviously there are risks with any surgery, but back surgery patients frequently suffer from Failed Back Surgery Syndrome. This occurs when a patient is in the same or worse shape as they were in prior to the surgery.

Chiropractic care has shown some impressive results in patients with scoliosis, degenerative disc disease or herniated discs. Many patients have avoided surgery altogether after undergoing routine chiropractic care. We believe that it is an alternative that deserves careful consideration when other traditional approaches to back pain have been tried and have failed. Chiropractic adjustments, along with other non-invasive treatment modalities, may make surgery an option that doesn't even require consideration.

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Dr. Gene Asks some important questions of interest to Spring Lake residents - Chiropractor Spring Lake Dr. Gene Asks...

How long does it take to form a bone spur?
Many who begin chiropractic care think their problem happened "last week when you bent over funny." But pictures of the spine tell a different story. Chiropractors know it can take your body years to deposit the calcium necessary to form a bone spur. It's your body's response to stress due to gravity or joint malfunction. And chiropractic care can help.
Are aches and pains good or bad?
While aches or pains may be unpleasant, they're merely warning signs. As a Spring Lake chiropractor, I see this all the time. The pain is not the problem! It just means a limitation has been reached and something needs to change. That's when we get to work correcting the underlying cause.