Signs You Need Minimally Invasive Surgery for Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out medical attention, and it’s a leading cause of disability in the United States. Up to 80% of people will experience low back pain during their lifetimes, while at any given point in time, some 26% of US adults have low back pain, and 14% have neck pain.

Back pain can be a symptom of muscle strain, ligament sprain, spine disorder, nerve impingement, or a condition affecting the pelvic or abdominal organs. Its intensity can range from mild to severe and may travel from the back into the limbs, especially the legs.

At Interventional Pain Center in Legacy Office Park, Norman, Oklahoma, interventional pain medicine physician Dr. James Stephens understands how debilitating back pain can be, especially if it doesn’t resolve within a few weeks as it should.

While he always tries conservative treatments first, Dr. Stephens is an expert at performing minimally invasive surgery to resolve back pain, and he’s recognized as a leader in the field for sacroiliac (SI) fusion, kyphoplasty, and Vertiflex™ procedures. Here are the signs that you may need a minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat your back pain.

Major causes of chronic back pain

Chronic pain lasts three months or more, long after your injury has healed. Majorcauses of chronic back pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis affects the joints in your back, such as the facet joints that hold the vertebrae together in a column. Two of the most common are osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear) and ankylosing spondylitis (which causes inflammation that fuses vertebrae). You may feel pain and stiffness in your lower back.

Degenerative disc disease

As you age, the cushiony discs that prevent the vertebrae from rubbing against each other and absorb the shock of movement lose moisture and flatten out, causing bone-on-bone friction.

You may feel pain in your lower back that extends into your arms, legs, and/or buttocks. The pain can come and go or worsen after specific movements, like bending or twisting.

Herniated disc

If the outer shell of the intervertebral disc cracks, the gel-like inner material can spill out (herniate) and press on nearby nerves or nerve roots. This leads to lower back pain and sharp, shooting pain down one side of your buttocks and leg (sciatica). We call this radicular pain, as it radiates out from the point of origin.

Myofascial pain syndrome

When the fascia, the membrane that surrounds muscles, becomes inflamed, it can lead to aching, throbbing, or vice-like pain, trigger points in the muscles that radiate pain when touched, weak muscles, and/or other symptoms.

Sacroiliitis

Inflammation of the SI joint at the base of your spine leads to lower back pain, which may spread into your buttocks, hips, and/or thighs.

Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)

Lumbar (lower back) spinal stenosis may restrict the space around the nerves, and these “pinched nerves” can cause lower back pain, sciatica, and pain that worsens with prolonged standing or walking.

Vertebral compression fractures

In instances of osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease, the vertebrae can spontaneously fracture, causing a great deal of pain, stiffness, and other problems. Dr. Stephens can address the fracture and pain with kyphoplasty, but you’ll also need treatment for the underlying problem. A rheumatologist best handles that.

Conservative treatments

Conservative treatments for many of these types of back pain include:

• Epidural steroid injections
• Nerve blocks
• Joint injections
• Radiofrequency ablation

Even if these treatments don't cure the underlying condition, they can relieve enough pain for you to participate in physical therapy (PT). PT uses targeted exercises, stretching, heat/cold therapy, and manual tissue manipulation and release to help you overcome the pain and regain control of your life.

Signs you need minimally invasive surgery

The biggest sign you need minimally invasive surgery is if your pain doesn’t respond to any of the conservative treatments.

We’ve discussed how kyphoplasty can repair vertebral compression fractures. In this procedure, Dr. Stephens inflates a balloon inside the collapsed vertebra and injects it with surgical cement. The cement restores the height of the original bone, relieving pain almost instantly.

Minimally invasive surgery can also treat:

• Arthritis
• Bulging or herniated discs
• Skeletal irregularities
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Cancer of the spine
• Inflammation
• Sciatica

The exact procedure the doctor uses depends upon the nature of your problem and your medical history.

If you have persistent back pain, visit Interventional Pain Center for an evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment plan that may include minimally invasive surgery. 

To learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Stephens, call the office at 405-759-8407, or use our online booking tool today.