Can older people survive all the pain and the long recovery process? Major issues like spinal arthritis, disk degeneration, as well as past surgeries that have failed to align the spine are the main problems for the aged people nowadays.
Major spinal surgeries are known to be dangerous and too risky for elderly people. Physical limitations occur because of chronic pain, and result in impaired life quality. Surgeries can better this case and improve the life of the patient, so, age should not be considered as a barrier or contradiction when it comes to spine surgery.
As a study suggests, patients who were over 65 and over 80 benefited from the spine surgery. Up to date, age has been regarded as a contradiction for elective operations, but the more the significance of the surgery, the more the risks it holds. Hence, there is no age limit for spinal surgery and most spinal diseases and issues can be treated successfully with surgery, in any age group. The aging population is growing and with this, the number of surgeries related to the spine is increasing too.
Between the years and , the lumbar rate increased by Surgeries do not always deliver the result we expect especially when we take a look at the recurrent rate of surgeries. The chances of success drop after each and every spine surgery the patient undergoes:. Conclusively, after the failed back surgeries, another surgery is not always the answer, and the doctor should find solutions to solve the issue through non-surgical therapies.
The article contained detailed knowledge about spinal surgery, whether it is necessary or not, and the risks that it contains. References : spineuniverse , pennmedicine. Spine Surgery. When is it necessary to undergo the spinal surgery? After viewing the results of the MRI or other tests, the doctor might refer the patient to undergo the spinal surgery, in case of the following issues: If there is a herniated disk that is not healing without surgery.
Certain weakness and numbness in the legs and arms. Having trouble in walking or while using hands. A bone in the back which is broken or dislocated.
A tumor that is on the spinal cord. Lost bowel or bladder control due to the problem with nerves in the back. Aside from danger, one of the paramount concerns for back surgery is whether or not it is successful. This estimate is conservative, as most success rates depend on a wide variety of factors. Your health, specific surgery, source of pain and any surgery complications influence whether or not your procedure will be effective.
Patients having repeated back surgeries have a much higher chance of failure. Unfortunately, failed back surgery is common enough that it has received classification as a medical condition. Failed back surgery syndrome FBSS occurs when a patient experiences continued pain in the back, neck or limbs following a surgery meant to reduce pain. Failed back surgery is relatively common — but not because the surgeon performed the procedure incorrectly.
Back surgery can only accomplish two goals : decompressing a pinched nerve root or stabilizing a painful joint. However, it can be challenging to identify and diagnose one of these factors before surgery. Considering appropriate non-surgical measures before surgery can help you avoid a costly procedure that does not adequately address back pain. Though the complication rate for back surgeries is relatively low, there is still potential for a variety of health issues.
The following are some common complications to consider. You may be less likely to experience specific complications based on your health condition. Talk to your doctor to learn about a list of complications that could be pertinent to you following a spinal surgery. As mentioned before, several factors impact spinal surgery success rates.
For example, your low back surgery success rate may vary, depending on whether your low back pain stems from a pinched nerve or herniated disc.
The thoracic spine is in the middle of the spine, between the abdomen and upper back. After 17 months of recovery, A surgeon might use minimally invasive spine surgery MIS to stabilize vertebrae and spinal joints or relieve pressure on spinal nerves.
This approach is a more conservative method compared to other open spine surgeries. Surgeons use small incisions, microscopic video cameras and guiding instruments to minimize the amount of trauma to the surgery site.
You may qualify for MIS if you have one of the following conditions :. There are several types of MIS procedures, depending on where a surgeon makes their incision. Herniated discs are common in the lumbar spine , but they may also occur in the cervical spine near the neck. If your discs have degenerated with time and ruptured, you may require herniated disc surgery. Depending on the location of your herniated disc , you may require a different surgical procedure.
According to one study, the success rate for a herniated lumbar disc surgery was Several spinal fusion surgeries can help limit back pain that stems from specific points. A fusion surgery involves joining two vertebrae with a bone graft, so they become one solid bone. This procedure can give your spine more stability and address pain you may feel when moving.
Sciatica occurs when you feel sudden pain in your hip and lower back that radiates to the back of the leg and thigh. You may experience sciatica as a result of normal wear and tear that accompanies aging. However, sciatica surgery may be appropriate if you feel disabling leg pain even after non-surgical intervention. The answer is that most back surgeries rely on a variety of factors for success. These include patient health, the type of spine surgery a patient has and the way post-operative factors play out.
Rojeh Melikian, M. Rojeh Melikian is a Harvard and Emory University-trained orthopaedic spine surgeon. He received extensive training in complex spinal surgery, scoliosis, as well as primary and metastatic spine tumors.
Upon graduation, Dr. Melikian was awarded the prestigious Harvard Orthopaedic Surgery Thesis Day Award for best clinical presentation for his work on spinal infections. Melikian has authored numerous presentations, posters and journal articles on spine surgery. Read more articles by Rojeh Melikian, M. As a Board-Certified Interventional Pain Medicine Specialist, a lot of my patients ask me for simple tips to make their According to a study by the Centers for Anyone who struggles with arthritis knows all about the aches and pains that seem to come along with cold weather.
Call Patient Education. By Rojeh Melikian, M.
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