When Does Back Pain After an Injury Actually Require Spine Surgery

Back pain can keep you from work, school, and social gatherings, stand in the way of an active lifestyle, and wreak havoc on your moods. If you’re experiencing it, you’re far from alone. 

Up to 80% of adults experience back pain at some point. For nearly one in four adults, the pain becomes chronic, lasting for several months or longer. 

If your own back pain stems from an injury, you may be a candidate for surgery — but surgical intervention isn’t always necessary or ideal.

Dr. Nicholas Perenich and his team at Spine Institute of Florida in Dade City and Spring Hill, Florida, provide a range of back pain treatments, from conservative care to complex spine surgeries. 

Take a moment to learn whether surgery may be in your future, plus other ways we can help.

Injuries that cause back pain

Any injury that affects the bones, ligaments, nerves, muscles, or tendons in your back can fuel bothersome back pain. Neck injuries can also contribute.

Especially common injuries that cause back pain include:

• Disc herniation
• Sprains and strains
• Vertebral fractures
• Whiplash

While anyone can develop back pain from an injury, your risk is heightened if you have a pre-existing condition, such as arthritis, engage in sports, or endured a car accident. A sedentary lifestyle and increasing age also raise your risk.

Conservative back pain treatments

Before considering spine surgery, our team typically recommends more conservative back pain treatment. Thankfully, most back and spine injuries respond favorably.

Depending on your injury type, symptom severity, and overall health, your treatment plan may include oral or injected medication, physical therapy, or a minimally invasive procedure like radiofrequency ablation, which heats and destroys a problematic nerve. In many cases, a combination of nonsurgical treatments works best.

When to consider spine surgery

When conservative measures fail to sufficiently reduce or eliminate your back pain, it may be time to consider surgery. Our team may also suggest spine surgery if your pain is severe and disabling. 

Whenever possible, we use minimally invasive spine surgery techniques to minimize pain and recovery time. Our expert team also performs complex surgeries, such as spinal fusion and laminectomy, when needed.

You may not qualify for spine surgery if you smoke or have a chronic condition, such as severe osteoporosis or poorly managed diabetes. If you’re obese, we may recommend losing weight prior to spine surgery to ensure a strong recovery.

To learn more about spine surgery for back pain or get started with personalized, compassionate care, call Spine Institute of Florida or schedule an appointment through our website today.