Almost every movement and action our bodies can make requires the spinal column. Even simple actions such as getting out of bed or walking downstairs can feel impossible when enduring back pain. The results can be quite devastating if we have mild, moderate, or severe cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine pain.
For many individuals, finding a way to relieve symptoms associated with an injury to the spine is as easy as rest, over-the-counter pain medicines, and low-impact exercises. Going to physical therapy is an oft-used resource, and chiropractic care ensures proper alignment for achieving persistent pain relief.
For other patients, though, conservative treatment methods are not enough to relieve pain and allow for the completion of everyday activities pain-free. In these circumstances and for particular medical conditions, the patient’s orthopedic surgeons may recommend a more intensive and invasive surgical procedure such as a spinal fusion.
At New York Spine Specialist, our surgical team is here to help you find the pain relief you need through the best possible care and treatments, including spinal fusion, to overcome spinal weakness. We have the knowledge, experience, and skills to help you achieve relief from discomfort resulting from spinal disorders such as spinal stenosis, herniated disk issues, severe arthritis, and many more.
What Is Spinal Fusion Surgery?
Spinal fusion is a surgical operation that fuses two or more vertebrae (small bones in the spinal cord) to relieve back pain, prevent deformities, and return spinal stability. The idea behind spinal fusion is to eliminate the possibility of movement between the vertebrae by welding the bones together into one solid bone.
Many patients have concerns that they will not be able to move well following the spinal fusion, but the limitations of the spine’s motion will be minimal because of the way the surgery is designed. Orthopedic spine surgeons will discuss the potential side effects of spinal fusion and how to overcome the issues related to flexibility and range of motion.
Benefits of Spine Surgery Involving Bone Graft Material
For the spinal fusion to be successful, your spinal fusion may incorporate some bone material to be used as a bone graft. The bone grafts are placed between the spinal segments and assist in the fusion process.
The bone graft stimulates bone healing, bone growth production, and the overall healing process after the completion of the surgery. The bone graft may use your bone (historically from the pelvic bone, also known as an autograft bone), donated material from the bone bank, or a cadaver bone (in the case of an allograft). Another possibility is the use of synthetic bone.
Several great benefits come with successful spine surgery for patients suffering from certain spinal conditions. These include:
Relief from back and neck pain
Increase in spine stability
Lessens the risk of fractures or soft tissue compression
Ability to get back to normal activities and an active lifestyle
Fusion surgery may be useful in the treatment of several different conditions on affected vertebrae and the spinal nerve
At New York Spine Specialist, we are proud to be able to offer many different forms of spine surgery, including:
Cervical spinal fusion
Anterior spinal fusion
Posterior spinal fusion
Anterior lumbar interbody fusion
Lumbar spinal fusion
Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion
Other surgical procedures
Once your bone heals, you may find that you are no longer in pain and will be able to complete the regular activities you are accustomed to doing daily.
What Conditions Can Benefit from a Spine Fusion Surgery
Many different conditions could greatly benefit from spine fusion surgery. Of particular note, the symptoms of the following serious spinal conditions may be relieved through spine fusion:
Spinal stenosis
Scoliosis
Herniated disk
Degenerative disc disease
Tumors
Spondylolisthesis
Infection
If you are suffering from any of these spine conditions, contact New York Spine Specialist to learn how spine surgery may be the best option. We are happy to explain both the advantages and risks of surgical options.
Before we perform your surgery, our surgeon approaches your situation and considers all potential options. Each of our patients is a part of our family, and we would never want to see a family member in pain or dealing with discomfort. Call us today to discuss your spine conditions and begin your treatment at New York Spine Specialist.
Contact Our Spinal Fusion Surgeons
Our spine surgeons at New York Spine Specialist are dedicated to providing our patients with the highest quality medical treatments. We understand that back pain can affect your overall health and well-being. Our orthopedic spine specialists know that you want to return to your normal, pain-free life, and we are fully committed to helping you return to that healthy lifestyle.
Our team is also well aware that the prospect of having surgery of any kind is intimidating, so we are happy to discuss the entire procedure with you in detail. We will also provide you with a thorough treatment plan that begins with less invasive, conservative options before jumping to an extreme such as spinal fusions.
Our experience and expertise will give you confidence and alleviate any stress or apprehension you may have about the treatments you will be receiving. If you have inconsistent pain in your back, neck, or spine, contact New York Spine Specialist today to learn about your spine treatment options.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection).
Our New York Spine Specialist staff is here for all your spine care needs with world-class service and a commitment to our patient’s overall well-being. Our surgical team can bring you the pain relief you are looking for, from herniated disks to whiplash and everything in between.
