Back Pain - When to see a Neurosurgeon

Guidance on When to Seek Expert Advice for Persistent Back Pain

Do you have disabling back pain? Do you experience pain in your legs when sitting or standing? Do you experience discomfort in your legs when walking, which improves with sitting or lying down?

You may be experiencing age-related changes in your lumbar spine, which are affecting your daily living. Grossly described as Spondylosis, it encompasses a disease spectrum ranging from a Prolapsed intervertebral disc to Lumbar canal stenosis, with or without Listhesis.

Going to physiotherapy and taking over-the-counter medications is usually the first line of treatment taken by most patients in this part of the world.

We should remember to see urgently a Neurosurgeon / Spine surgeon if any of the following develop.

1. Symptoms increase in severity

2. Symptoms don't respond

3. Weakness or numbness of the legs.

4. Difficulty in passing urine or perineal numbness.

Your may be advised MRI scans, Xrays and Bone Densitometry tests to diagnose the problem with your spine and plan treatment.

There is reasonable evidence that if conservative treatment modalities fail, surgical intervention may give you benefits in terms of relief of leg pain, back pain and restore an active lifestyle.

Discuss with your surgeon about the type of surgery proposed, expected outcomes, possible complications and alternative options available to take an informed decision.

In the next article, we will learn further about available surgical options.

Watch this video for further questions.

The video describes FAQs related to Spine Surgery