A spinal fusion procedure is a major undertaking that, while helpful at providing relief, is typically a procedure that your surgeon will attempt to avoid if at all possible. Because it’s a major undertaking that will limit your spinal flexibility because nearby vertebrae are fused to one another, your surgeon may walk you through some alternatives to consider before you move forward with a fusion procedure. Below, we take a look at three effective alternatives to a spinal fusion procedure.
Spinal Fusion Alternatives
If you’re hoping to avoid a spinal fusion procedure, it’s imperative that you are proactive in working to correct your spinal issue before it progresses to the point that surgery is the only option. However, even if surgery is the only option, you still may be able to pursue something other than spinal fusion. Here’s a look at three alternatives to spinal fusion.
- Physical Therapy – Physical therapy can be highly effective at correcting vertebral issues that may eventually require a fusion procedure. The goal of physical therapy is to strengthen nearby structures so that your spine can better handle stress and your vertebral column isn’t overloaded by pressure. PT is most effective when pursued at an earlier stage, so the sooner you work to strengthen and stabilize your spine with physical therapy, the more likely it is that you’ll make enough progress to avoid the need for a spinal fusion.
- Corticosteroid Injections – Another potentially helpful treatment is a corticosteroid injection. These concentrated injections can be delivered directly to the problemed area to provide near-instant relief, but the injection alone won’t solve your back issue in the long term. Corticosteroid injections should be paired with other active techniques that can help to strengthen your spine or take pressure off the area. Oftentimes spine specialists recommend that corticosteroid injections should be paired with physical therapy, postural corrections and weight loss to take full advantage of the pain relief provided by the injection.
- Artificial Disc Replacement – If surgery is inevitable, it pays to have a conversation with your spine specialist about the possibility of pursuing an artificial disc replacement instead of a fusion procedure. As the name implies, an artificial disc replacement procedure involves the insertion of an artificially-created disc that mimics the motion of a healthy human spinal disc. This procedure helps to ensure that the spinal column remains flexible and more able to disperse stress as it normally would. Advances in technology and surgeon skill mean that it’s incredibly rare for a patient to need a follow up procedure to address a previously-inserted spinal disc. Instead of fusing the spine and putting more stress on the adjacent vertebrae, consider having the damaged disc replaced and preserving more natural movement in your spinal column.
As we mentioned above, spinal fusion can provide a patient with an immense amount of relief, but oftentimes your care team will look into different treatments that are just as effective. For more information about spinal fusion or its alternatives, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at the Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
