For many people, choosing to have spinal fusion surgery is a big decision. This surgery can relieve severe back pain, but it also has a major downside. There are some permanent restrictions after spinal fusion a person has to cope with.
It permanently limits how they can move, affecting their quality of life and ability to work. Recovery from the surgery can take six months or longer. There are lasting limits on what activities you can do.
Common Problems After Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion is a surgery to treat various spine problems, like degenerative disc disease or spinal instability. This can reduce pain and make the spine more stable. However, patients have to get used to new, often permanent, limitations. Such as:
- Limited MobilitySpinal fusion involves joining two or more vertebrae, which stops natural movement in that part of the spine. This loss of flexibility can make it hard to bend, twist, or flex the fused area because the vertebrae can no longer move on their own.
After the surgery, the fused area becomes stiff and weak, affecting both the spine and the surrounding muscles. This stiffness can cause more pain at the fusion site and reduce spinal flexibility, limiting movement and causing activity restrictions.
- Prolonged Pain ManagementMost patients get good pain relief after spinal fusion surgery, but less than 10 percent still have ongoing neck or lower back pain. Even those with successful surgeries may still feel pain sometimes. This chronic pain can sometimes be lessened with physical therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes.
- Reduced Range of MotionEach vertebra in the spine moves independently, allowing you to move your neck, twist your back, and bend over. For example, you couldn’t do yoga without this independent movement.
After spinal surgery, the fused bones no longer move independently. This reduces the range of motion in the neck or lower back, a condition known as reduced range of motion in the spine.
- Increased Risk of Adjacent Segment Disease (ASD)Spinal bones are meant to move independently. While spinal fusion can relieve pain, it puts extra stress on the spine. The vertebrae above and below the fused area start to experience unusual forces, causing the natural discs to break down faster. This condition is called Adjacent Segment Disease (ASD).
Adjacent segment degeneration happened in 26.6% of lumbar and 32.8% of cervical fusion surgeries. About a third of those patients developed ASD.
Things You Can Never Do After Spinal Fusion
Unless you have complications, there are very few things you will never be able to do after a spinal fusion. However, you should avoid powerlifting exercises or any activities that put extreme stress on your spine.
You must also limit certain physical jobs that involve heavy lifting, repetitive lifting, twisting, or bending your lower back. Talk to your orthopedic surgeon about any activity limits before the surgery so you can understand the benefits and risks.
How to Avoid Spinal Fusion Surgery?
Due to the complications and limits linked to spinal fusion, many patients look for ways to avoid the surgery. They might choose either non-surgical treatments or alternative surgeries instead. Patients with chronic back pain from conditions like spinal stenosis and herniated discs often benefit from non-surgical treatment. Orthopedics usually recommend trying non-surgical options first and only suggest surgery if these treatments don’t work after several months.
Wrapping Up
While spinal fusion can successfully straighten a curved spine, it can harm overall spinal health and function. It extensively affects a patient’s quality of life. There are also permanent restrictions after spinal fusion that make the majority of doctors and patients avoid it.
Visit Dr. Gombera at Mufaddal Gombera, MD. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeon has plenty of non-surgical treatments to make your life pain-free. Call us at (713) 794-3457 for an appointment.
