Will I Lose Mobility After Spinal Fusion?

Expert neurosurgeon Dr. Beejal Y. Amin understands how complex spine function, or dysfunction, can be. Dr. Amin treats new and existing patients from his offices in Oak Lawn, South Holland, and Orland Park, Illinois, offering minimally invasive spinal surgery to help when something in your spine goes wrong.

If you suffer from chronic back pain, spinal arthritis, degenerative disc disease, or other spine-related issues, Dr. Amin may suggest spinal fusion surgery as an effective treatment option. Spinal fusion may be necessary to relieve your chronic pain symptoms for good.

Spinal fusion involves joining two or more of the small bones in your spine, known as vertebrae. Your multiple vertebrae give your spine its flexibility and range of motion. Will spinal fusion reduce your overall mobility? Here’s what Dr. Amin wants his patients to know about the benefits and effects of this procedure.

The benefits of spinal fusion

People with many spinal conditions, including spinal arthritis, can benefit from spinal fusion. After your procedure, pain related to vertebrae rubbing against each other won’t trouble you. Spinal fusion surgery can also protect the nerves, ligaments, and muscles around vertebrae that move or grind against one another.

Dr. Amin may suggest spinal fusion if you’re dealing with conditions, including spinal arthritis, degenerative disc disease, or narrowing of your spinal column. This procedure also effectively addresses breaks, tumors, or infections in your spinal column.

Spinal fusion and mobility

Spinal fusion effectively prevents one or more of your vertebrae from moving. So, what does that do to your overall mobility?

Areas of your spine that haven’t had treatment can continue moving without pain or dysfunction. Chronic pain often limits mobility, so in some ways, your spinal fusion treatment can help you reclaim a more active lifestyle.

However, you should know that a spinal fusion procedure reduces the overall mobility of your spine. The number of vertebrae that need to be fused, and the location of the part of your spine that needs fusion, determine how much mobility loss you experience after your spinal fusion. Typically, the mobility loss isn’t significantly impactful on daily life activities.

Before your procedure, Dr. Amin ensures you understand the risks and benefits of spinal fusion surgery. He lets you know how surgery affects your future mobility so you can make an informed decision about your health care and treatment.

Minimally invasive spinal surgery

Dr. Amin uses minimally invasive spine surgery techniques whenever possible for your operations. Minimally invasive spinal fusion creates a smaller incision than traditional techniques, reducing your risks of complications and overall recovery time.

Depending on your treatment needs, Dr. Amin may use an incision in your side or back to place the graft between the vertebrae that need to be fused. Your procedure happens under general anesthesia, meaning you won’t be conscious during surgery.

Dr. Amin removes the disc between the vertebrae that need treatment. He replaces the disc with a graft made of bone or a synthetic material. You may need screws or other anchors to attach your spinal column.

Then, Dr. Amin closes the incision. Your whole procedure takes a couple of hours. Your chronic pain symptoms could be gone after surgery or they could decrease gradually.

To learn more about spinal fusion benefits and side effects, contact Dr. Amin online or over the phone to schedule an appointment.