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Any surgical procedure is associated with a certain degree of pain due to the cutting and suturing of tissues. You should expect a certain amount of discomfort in the skin and muscles along your spine right after your operation. Your doctor or other care providers will suggest... Read More →

This varies from patient to patient. A simple discectomy, for example, is now done as same-day surgery, with the patient sent home a few hours after the procedure. Other more complex operations such as a long decompression or an extensive fusion may require you to be admitted to... Read More →

This depends on your procedure, and your surgeon’s techniques. In recent years, microsurgical approaches have been developed and refined. This means the operation can be done using several smaller incisions (rather than one large one) through which specialized instruments are... Read More →

This depends on many factors—the actual procedure being done, your age and general health, your surgeon’s preferences and your own (see About anaesthesia) Read More →

Many people scheduled for back surgery wait months before their operations take place. During that time, there’s a lot you can do to make your recovery easier: If your doctor has suggested you lose some extra weight, this is a good time to make changes to your diet and activity... Read More →

Even today, many people—including some health professionals—believe that back surgery is a high-risk procedure. While back surgery should be seen as a major event it isn’t “risky” and the results can be anticipated with some certainty. This is particularly true when surgery is... Read More →

Each of the three common problems has a typical surgical solution. All of the problems may respond to time and non-operative care so surgery generally follows a course of unsuccessful therapy. If the situation requires it, more than one procedure may be done at the same... Read More →

Back surgery is done for a variety of reasons, to correct deformity, reduce and fix a fracture or remove a tumour for example but surgery to eliminate leg and back pain is often done for one of three common conditions. It generally follows a period of non-operative care that has... Read More →

Undergoing back surgery is a big decision. If you are considering this treatment, chances are you have lots of questions. Back surgery techniques have changed significantly over the years so it is important to get the most recent information and to be able to separate what is... Read More →

One of the most frustrating things about back pain is how much it interferes with even the simplest daily activities—from getting a pot out of a cupboard to mowing the lawn. Most people find that specific positions or activities make their back or leg symptoms worse while other... Read More →