If you or someone you know suffers from chronic back pain, you understand how debilitating the pain can be. Every element of daily life is affected.
Not only is your ability to lift, walk or bend impacted, but even the simplest tasks can be painful and sometimes intolerable. Many who have experienced this have considered spinal fusion surgery.
Back pain can range in severity, depending on how long and strong the pain is, you may have already sought out a variety of interventions in search of relief. How do you know if a more invasive approach is the next appropriate step?
Is Spinal Fusion Right For You?
- Do you experience chronic arm pain or weakness?
- Do you feel a heavy sensation in your arms or pain between your shoulder blades?
- Have you tried to relieve your symptoms through massage therapy or other non-surgical treatments but yet the pain still persists?
If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, call AICA Orthopedics today to consult with a board-certified Atlanta orthopedic surgeon. They will help determine the least invasive techniques and judge whether spinal fusion is the right call for you.
If it is determined that you are a candidate for spinal fusion surgery, your Atlanta orthopedic doctor will take you through the process. Spinal fusion surgery is a procedure in which the surgeon permanently joins two or more vertebrae in your spine. This stops movement between them with the expectation that once the movement stops, you back pain subsides.
What is the Recovery Process After Spinal Fusion?
Those that have suffered from chronic back pain are eager for relief, so how long after surgery will you have to wait before you return to normal life? Each patient is different, but recovery typically takes three to six months.
During the recovery time, it is expected that patients are participating in physical therapy to enhance recovery and improve results. It is important to listen to your Atlanta orthopedic surgeon, following their directions and limitations and eating a healthy diet ensure a healthy recovery.