Category Archives: Tales of Chronic Back Pain
The most important factor in a successful back surgery recovery is attitude. Focusing on your new well being following the surgery, should bring about encouraging thoughts about what is to come. There are also plenty of practical steps that can be taken in order to ease the stress of the recovery process.
WEEKS PRIOR:
It may be difficult to get around well at first, so take care of all the regular appointments and errands that need be done such as, dental/doctor needs, the hair salon and pet appointments.
Arrange for help and transportation to and from the surgical center for the day of surgery, as well as all post operation appointments.
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Posted in Tales of Chronic Back Pain, Tales of Chronic Neck Pain, Tips and Advice, Uncategorized
Tagged back surgery, recovery process, surgical center
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Spinal surgery may not be the perfect fit for many people. There are several ways to prevent spine surgery if you have struggled with back problems.
Electrical Impulses through the Skin
This is a treatment that has been used for over a century that has been shown to greatly reduce pain. There are several different types of electrical treatments available for patients, one of which being a process where electricity is directly transferred by needle electrodes to deep tissues in the body close to the spine. This procedure is done to reach the nerves in the spine that may be causing the patient pain. This treatment is known to reduce the sensitivity of the central nervous system that causes pain in the spinal column. Continue reading
Posted in Tales of Chronic Back Pain, Tales of Chronic Neck Pain, Tips and Advice, Uncategorized
Tagged back pain, spinal column, spinal problem, Spinal surgery, spine surgery
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Failed Back Surgery Syndrome or FBSS is the result of spinal surgery that did not achieve the desired results. Spinal surgery changes the spine in the hopes of eliminating the severe pain suffered by the patient. While many spinal surgeries are successful in outcome, some are not and therefore, the patient is diagnosed with failed back surgery syndrome and usually referred to a pain specialist or other treatment options.
There are several contributing factors to FBSS. The patient may have not been a good candidate for back surgery to begin with or scar tissue may build up after surgery causing more problems of the spine. Complications can arise after any surgery, especially if your surgery was not the one suited best to your individual problems.
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Posted in Tales of Chronic Back Pain, Tales of Chronic Neck Pain, Tips and Advice, Uncategorized
Tagged back surgeries, back surgery, Conventional surgery, laser surgery, pain specialist, spine surgery
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Some people have trouble differentiating between nerve damage and common side effects of spine surgery. Surgery on your spine is probably the most precise that you can have done, because of how delicate it is. Most of the time they have to call in surgeons who are specifically geared towards doing this type of surgery, so that it can be done accurately and without issues. Still, even with the best surgeons, it is normal to feel some sort of discomfort or pain after having spinal surgery, and it’s important to determine what exactly is causing it.
First off, most nerve damage is constant and will not be released when twisting your body. It is steady and will generally not get any worse depending on how you sit, stand, or prop yourself up. Nerve damage has a tendency not to go away, and feel like a pinching. If it’s so bad that it actually cuts off functionality to a part of the body, you should immediately see a doctor and try not to move your body as much as possible. If the pain gets more faint over time and then flairs back up, you are not dealing with nerve damage, but instead the normal pain that comes with spinal surgery. Continue reading
Posted in Tales of Chronic Back Pain, Tales of Chronic Neck Pain, Tips and Advice, Uncategorized
Tagged nerve damage, spine surgery
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As you age, your body degenerates and you may be required to undergo some form spine surgery. You may have thought that surgery would relieve the pain that you are suffering, but you experience post spine surgery facet joint pains. This is because spine surgery can change the movement and load patterns of your spine.
Located in the back sides of your spine are two small bones called facet joints. Together with the discs, your facet joints provide the needed support and movement for your spine. These joints are very essential for body motion.
Some surgical spine procedures for treating a herniated disc can cause your facet joints to further degenerate. Likewise, some spine operational processes to cure the compression of your nerve roots (located on the same level as your facet joints) can cause you to feel pain. Spine surgery can prove to be effective to solve a problem, but it may also be another cause of your dilemma. Continue reading
Posted in Tales of Chronic Back Pain, Tales of Chronic Neck Pain, Tips and Advice, Uncategorized
Tagged herniated disc, spine surgery, surgical decompression, surgical spine procedures
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Spinal fusion is one of the top treatment plans for many back problems, including lumbar degenerative disc disease. There are two types of Spinal Fusion, using the patient’s own bone for an autograft or with the use of an LT cage device. These procedures are not simple and require quite a bit of recovery time. It is important for patients and their loved ones to pay careful attention to taking the proper steps in recovery for the best possible outcome.
Life After Surgery
Though your doctor will tell you exactly what to expect and come up with a recovery plan that is suited especially to meet your post-op needs, there are some things that every person who has ever had back surgery can relate to or benefit from hearing.
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Posted in Tales of Chronic Back Pain, Tales of Chronic Neck Pain, Tips and Advice, Uncategorized
Tagged back problems, back surgery, lumbar degenerative disc disease, post-surgical results, Spinal fusion
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According to reports published online there are more incidences of adverse side effect caused by human bone morphogenetic protein use than has been supposed. The most common adverse side effects are swelling at the neck or throat, leg pains and sterility in males. The side effect of swelling is the more common one and often happens at the location of the surgery. The swelling spreads and affect local tissues and organs. The swelling side effect caused by human bone morphogenetic protein use can cause further complications. These complications include blockage of the patient’s airway if the swelling occurs in the throat. A complication of blocked airway due to swelling of the throat caused by BMP could be fatal.
Another adverse side effect cause by human bone morphogenetic protein use is male infertility. The male infertility adverse side effect can occur and is caused retrograde ejaculation that can occur after a lumbar fusion that uses human bone morphogenetic protein. The retrograde ejaculation involves a network of tiny nerves on top of the disc that controls a valve. When affected by a BMP surgery, the valve can malfunction and stop expelling sperm during intercourse outwardly. The ejaculation is reversed and is expelled into the male bladder. Continue reading
Posted in Tales of Chronic Back Pain, Tales of Chronic Neck Pain, Tips and Advice, Uncategorized
Tagged human bone morphogenetic, lumbar surgery, male bladder, male infertility
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Scoliosis and Kyphosis are both spine abnormalities/deformities that may result to issues to patients such as functional and aesthetic. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature while kyphosis is roundback or Kelso’s hunchback curvature. Those who with these kinds of spine deformities have trouble in performing daily activities as they are leaning to their sides or stopping forward and there is an association with nerve irritation or mechanical pain. Those who are at the progressive level of these conditions also experience breathing problems as well as abnormalities in the digestive tract.
Surgical intervention for scoliosis, kyphosis and other spinal form abnormalities is a big decision that is why the patients are counseled well regarding the options. However, surgery for these spine deformities are advised to assuage the symptoms brought about by the condition, as well as to minimize the curving of the spine or to align the posture; or generally to enhance function. The first surgery is a major undertaking with considerable potential danger. It is vital that the patients have realistic anticipations on the result of the operation. Continue reading
Posted in Tales of Chronic Back Pain, Tales of Chronic Neck Pain, Tips and Advice, Uncategorized
Tagged back surgeries, Kyphosis, Scoliosis, spine abnormalities, Surgical intervention
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The safety of cadaver bone grafts is an important concern for people considering surgery using donated bone. Bone tissue donated from cadavers are called allograft tissues. This tissue is used in procedures ranging from dental surgery to spinal fusions and fracture repairs. As with all donated tissue, allograft tissue is subjugated to rigorous testing before implementation in a patient.
First, the donor’s medical history is examined and blood tests are ran to check for any infections or other undiagnosed health issues. These histories include checking for risky behaviors like intravenous drug use. Potential donors with any form of hepatitis, HIV, AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, cancers, or other potentially transferable illnesses are immediately excluded.
After the allograft tissue is harvested it is sterilized. Actually, it is sterilized three times. Once when it is harvested, again during processing, and finally before it is sent to the site for implementation. Continue reading
Posted in Tales of Chronic Back Pain, Tales of Chronic Neck Pain, Tips and Advice, Uncategorized
Tagged bone grafts, cadaver bone grafts, spinal fusions
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WHEN A SECOND OPINION IS ADVISABLE
Surgery is serious business and cannot be taken lightly. It is a good idea to seek a second opinion due to all that it encompasses. Surgery involves concern for the patient and family members, financial costs and care/recovery. Receiving an opinion that a surgery is needed can be an overwhelming moment and much careful thought should be given.
The patient should perceive that they are getting all the necessary information regarding what is happening with their body. They need to be assured of the reasons why the surgery is necessary and the ways in which it will improve their condition. If the patient does not feel that they have a good connection with their doctor, or that their questions are not being answered, they may need to consider a second opinion. Continue reading
Posted in Tales of Chronic Back Pain, Tales of Chronic Neck Pain, Tips and Advice, Uncategorized
Tagged doctor's opinion, second opinion, surgery
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About Back Pain
If you're experiencing back pain, you might be wondering just what’s causing it.
Myth vs Facts
At The Spine Center, we understand that spine surgery can be a scary prospect.
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