Back pain is quite common. In fact, most people will experience some form of back pain during their lives. This pain can occur in a wide range of locations from the neck to the lower back. In addition, the severity of your pain can vary significantly based on the specifics of your injury.
There are many potential causes of back pain. Some of the most common include:
Wear and tear from the aging process
Improper body mechanics from bad habits associated with posture, sitting position, lifting heavy objects, etc.
While the causes of back pain vary considerably, the symptoms are relatively common from person to person:
Aching or stiffness along the spine (this may occur anywhere between the base of your neck and your tailbone, depending on the specifics of your injury)
Sharp pain localized in a specific area (neck, upper back, lower back)
Chronic, aching pain in the middle or lower back
Pain that starts in the low back or buttocks area and radiates down the back of the thigh
Muscle spasms in the lower back when trying to stand straight
Numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs
When Should I Consider Spine Surgery?
If you’ve been struggling with back pain for an extended period of time, you may be considering spine surgery. While this is necessary to alleviate the pain experienced by many individuals, surgery isn’t always warranted. In fact, it should rarely be considered before more conservative treatment options are explored.
In most instances, the following nonsurgical treatments will be tried before spine surgery is recommended:
Physical therapy
Home exercises
Anti-inflammatory and pain medications
Spinal injections
If these treatments fail to alleviate your symptoms, surgery may be necessary to restore a pain free life.
Traditional Spine Surgery vs. Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Traditional spine surgery is performed as an “open procedure.” This means a long incision is used along the surgical site, allowing our spine surgeons to easily view and access the treatment area.
Whenever possible, our surgeons will perform minimally invasive spine surgery. This method uses a smaller incision which exposes less surface area in the treatment region. Surgical aids, such as intraoperative spinal navigation technology and other computer-assisted image guidance, will be used to provide the visibility necessary to perform the surgery with greater precision.
Minimally invasive spine surgery offers several important benefits:
Shorter operative time
Less postoperative pain
Faster recovery
Shorter hospital stays
Keep in mind that minimally invasive spine surgery is only appropriate in certain situations, and our surgeons will only recommend this approach when it is the best possible solution. Regardless of the approach used, the long-term goals are the same:
Alleviation of chronic pain
Improvement of symptoms
Decreased future degeneration of structures in the spinal region
Learn More About Spine Surgery
Read our blog for an in-depth discussion of spine surgery
Spine Surgery Procedures Performed at Colorado Advanced Orthopedics
At Colorado Advanced Orthopedics, we perform a wide range of spine surgery procedures, including:
Cervical laminoplasty – A cervical spine surgery technique that removes pressure from the spinal cord in the neck.
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) – A type of neck surgery that involves removing a damaged disc to relieve spinal cord or nerve root pressure and alleviate corresponding pain, weakness, numbness and tingling. This procedure is also called an anterior cervical decompression.
Anterior cervical disc replacement – A cervical spine surgery procedure performed to remove a damaged cervical disc and replace it with an artificial prosthetic disc.
Fusion/spinal fusion – A surgery to remove a herniated or degenerative disc in the neck.
Kyphoplasty – A vertebral augmentation surgery to treat fractures in the vertebra.
Lumbar laminectomy – A surgery that creates space by removing the lamina (the back part of a vertebra that covers your spine). Also called decompression surgery, this procedure enlarges your spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
Microdiscectomy – A minimally invasive surgical procedure performed on patients with a herniated lumbar disc. This is also called microdecompression or microdiscectomy.
Minimally invasive spine surgery – A type of surgery that uses smaller incisions, resulting in less harm to nearby muscles and other tissues.
Posterior cervical spine fusion (PCF)/posterior spinal fusion/posterior thoracic spinal fusion – Surgically mending two or more cervical spine bones together along the sides of the bone using a posterior incision. This procedure is most commonly performed for patients with cervical fracturs or instability, but it is also performed for a variety of other spinal conditions such as tumors, infections and deformity. PCF may also be performed in conjunction with anterior cervical surgery, especially when multiple levels are involved.
Spinal Stimulator Insertion – A neuromodulation technique that is used to treat neuropathic and sympathetically mediated chronic pain.
Lateral interbody fusion – A minimally invasive spine surgery to treat disc problems in the low back.
Lateral spinal fusion – Through an incision made at the waist, lateral fusion reaches the spin from the side. The disc is removed and replaced with a bone graft.
Lateral lumbar fusion – A relatively new, minimally invasive technique for inter-body fusion.
Freeing You from the Burdens of Back and Neck Pain
Ongoing back and neck pain can be extremely debilitating, impacting your ability to perform and many routine daily activities. Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer through this pain any longer. At Colorado Advanced Orthopedics, our team of highly trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeons can help you restore a pain free life, allowing you to enjoy your favorite activities once again.
Our team is driven by our purpose – to make people feel cared for. This has fueled our desire to create an amazing patient experience throughout every stage of your treatment. You’ll benefit from working with a caring team who goes the extra mile to provide the personalized treatment you deserve. Our state-of-the art orthopedic surgery facility utilizes the most advanced technology available to deliver highly precise surgical outcomes. In addition, we’ve invested in a variety of amenities to ensure your stay with us is a comfortable as possible.
You’ll work with some of the most experienced spine surgeons on the Western Slope. Our team consistently delivers exceptional outcomes that allow our patients to celebrate life’s joys once again. We’ll also provide you with the education you need to understand your options and make an informed decision regarding our treatment recommendations.
Contact Us
We serve patients in Meeker and throughout the White River Valley.
