Most pain in the lower back can be treated without surgery and some severe conditions require different types of back surgeries. Surgeries often don’t relieve pain but the researchers suggest 20 to 40 percent of back surgeries are unsuccessful.

Types of back surgeries

There are different types of back surgeries available which include-

• Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty
• Spinal laminectomy/ spinal decompression
• Discectomy
• Foraminotomy
• Nucleoplasty, also known as plasma disk decompression
• Spinal fusion
• Artificial disk replacement

When to consider back surgery?

Certain situations require a back surgery which include-

• Herniated or ruptured disks
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Vertebral fractures
• Degenerative disk diseases

In some cases, back pain is caused by a tumor, infection, or a nerve root problem caused by cauda equina syndrome.

Risks involved with back surgery

Back surgery is usually done under general anesthesia. There are some risks associated with anesthesia as the body's hemodynamics changes. There are various risks and complications associated with back surgery as it is done closer to the nervous system. The most serious complications such as paralysis and infections.

Back surgery causes a lot of post-operative pain and the patient might require pain killers for days and weeks after the surgery.

The recovery time after successful surgery is very long. Depending on the type of surgery and your condition before the surgery, healing may take months and the patient may lose the flexibility permanently.