Does back surgery hurt

In the past, treating back pain with spine surgery could be summed up by this mantra: It gets worse before it gets better. Treatment for routine spine conditions such as herniated discs, stenosis, and bone spurs was invasive and painful, with a long recovery time.

Since the introduction of laser spine surgery, however, back patients who need surgery have more options than ever. Most common back conditions can be treated in an outpatient setting, and patients feel better even as the surgery takes place, instead of being in pain for weeks afterwards.

Not all patients who have been diagnosed with a back condition will need surgery at all; for the majority, conservative treatments such as chiropractic care, physical therapy, or medication are enough to solve the problem. For those who do need surgery, laser back surgery brings effective results with less pain, less downtime, and fewer side effects.

Traditional Back Surgery

If you opt for open back surgery in a hospital setting, you will feel nothing during the actual procedure, because you will be under general anesthesia. After waking up, however, you will feel considerable discomfort over the next several weeks:

• It is not uncommon to feel nausea and other side effects for 1-3 days after general anesthesia.
• A large wound is made during the surgery - the doctor cuts through skin, muscle, bone, and connective tissue. This wound will make certain movements uncomfortable until it heals.
• About 5% of patients develop an infection at the site of the wound, which causes considerable discomfort.
• Patients must take a variety of medications after surgery: prescription painkillers, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, and more. This is especially a problem for patients already taking medications for other health conditions.

Because of the pain which occurs while the wound heals, most patients are prescribed painkillers for 1-4 weeks after surgery. While on painkillers, the normal range of activities is significantly restricted. Patients cannot go back to work until after the wound has healed completely and they are off painkillers. In addition, patients cannot drive while under the influence of prescription narcotics.

While major open back surgery comes with significant pain, it is the right choice for patients who have rare or serious conditions which cannot be treated non-surgically, with laser surgery, or with other minimally invasive procedures. However, most common back conditions can be treated with laser surgery, allowing patients to avoid the discomfort associated with traditional surgery.

Laser Back Surgery

People who choose laser spine surgery and similar minimally invasive procedures experience much less pain than those who undergo traditional surgery:

• It is performed under local anesthesia and sometimes a light sedative, eliminating the potential side effects of going under.
• Only a small incision is made, about the size of a needle. Therefore, discomfort is mild.
• Infection is much less likely.
• After surgery, patients need only over-the-counter painkillers

Patients who undergo laser back surgery walk out of the office with their pain relieved, rather than waking up with pain so severe it requires prescription medication. While all surgery has the potential to cause some pain, with laser back surgery the pain is short-lived and mild. For most patients, pain can be managed with over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. This allows for a quicker return to work, and a more comfortable overall recovery.

Back surgery of any type, performed correctly, will alleviate your pain and other symptoms eventually. However, while traditional back surgery entails a long and painful recovery, laser back surgery patients generally experience little to no pain during and after the procedure - instead, the pain being treated is relieved immediately.

To find out whether laser back surgery is right for you, please call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center.