When to Seek Surgical Care for Back Pain of Disc Origin?

When to Seek Surgical  Care for Back Pain of Disc origin?

Avoiding unnecessary spinal surgery is the intent of this course, but unfortunately not all spine surgery is avoidable, and not every reader will avoid surgery. Some disc injuries require surgery or at least a consultation with a spine surgeon. Before reading the rest of this book you are urged to carefully review the next pages to determine if you need a surgical consultation. There are varying degrees of urgency in seeking a surgical consultation. On one end of the spectrum is a medical emergency which requires immediate surgical intervention to avoid or minimize a permanent impairment. On the other end of the continuum is the elective surgical consultation. An elective surgical consultation occurs when a patient elects to be seen for a surgical consultation due to a chronic progressive condition that, while not emergent, constitutes a sustained and un resolved spinal condition which may be addressed with surgery .Medical Emergencies Certain spinal symptoms require an immediate surgical consultation: Loss of bowel or bladder control, urinary retention, neurological sexual dysfunction, muscle weakness or flaccidity,neurological deficit, numbness of the genitalia, or numbness in the distribution of a saddle.Less urgent symptoms that may need a surgical consultation include severe and disabling back pain or shooting pain into the legs that is refractory (does not respond) to other treatment sand lasts more than four to eight weeks.

These conditions need immediate medical attention

Spinal Fractures Trauma (falling, car accident…)

• Osteoporosis: Even minor trauma can cause fractures in people who have osteoporosis. Risk for osteoporosis increases with age or with the use of steroids or transplant immune-suppressing drugs.
• Infection or Tumor
• Pain that is worse at night
• The use of corticosteroids or HIV or immune-suppressive drugs (drugs that reduce symptoms that help fight disease)
• Unexplained weight loss
• Night sweats, chills, fever
• History of cancer
• Recent infectionSevere
•  Neurological Conditions
• Bladder or bowel dysfunction
• Numbness of the anus or genitals
• Weakness of the legs
• Numbness in the distribution of [both] your inner thighs

Aside from disc herniations, there are several other conditions and symptoms that require immediate medical attention. Fractures, infections, cancer, tumors, and progressive neurological disease can all mimic the signs of a herniated lumbar disc.