Question
What are the risks and benefits of lower back fusion surgery? What would you recommend a person try before surgery?
Answer
Lower back fusion surgery is an option for severe back pain, typically due to advanced arthritis and/or spine instability which has not responded to non-operative methods. These non-operative methods include the appropriate pain medications, especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen, naprosyn etc); physical therapy and exercises; and possibly steroid injections.
If the pain is unrelenting, has not responded to non-operative methods and significantly affects the daily activities, then surgery is considered. The goals of the surgery are to stiffen (fuse) the affected part of the spine, and by stopping the motion, decrease the pain.
The risks can include infection, nerve injury, bleeding, pain after the surgery due to scarring, failure of the fusion or fixation, and others.