Back pain is highly common. Almost every adult experiences it at some point in their lives. Sometimes due to poor posture, sometimes, heavy lifting, or sometimes, prolonged sitting. Fortunately, most types of back pain respond well to medication, physiotherapy, and rest.
If the pain is severe or interfering with your daily life, it may be time to consult a neurosurgeon in Kolhapur at WIINS Hospitals. Surgery is only recommended when other treatments do not offer relief from pain. In this post, we’ve listed some warning signs that may require surgical intervention.
You Have Persistent Back Pain
Back pain isn’t something you need to tolerate forever. In most cases, the pain lasts for a few days to up to a couple of weeks. It shouldn’t affect your function or cause lingering symptoms. Chronic back pain is when the pain is intense and lasts beyond 12 weeks.
A neurologist doesn’t recommend back surgery as the first-line treatment unless there’s severe spinal damage. They start with medication, therapies, posture correction, lifestyle modifications, and in some cases, steroid shots. Surgery is usually the last resort.
Pain Moving to the Legs or Arms
When back pain radiates down the legs or to the arms, it indicates nerve compression. This happens when a slipped disc presses on the surrounding nerves. The pain occurs along the path of the affected nerve.
Medication and physiotherapy can help, but if the pain continues and gets worse, microscopic lumbar disc surgery in Kolhapur becomes a reliable option. It’s a minimally invasive surgery that aims to remove the part of the disc that presses on the nerves, leaving the healthy tissues intact.
Your Mobility is Compromised
If constant back pain has reduced mobility, then it’s time to visit a neurosurgeon. Sometimes, back pain accompanied by difficulty walking or moving indicates spinal stenosis—a medical condition caused by a narrowed spinal canal or compressed nerves. Common signs include pain when walking, difficulty standing for long periods, and pain that relieves with rest.
Numbness or Weakness in Legs
Constant numbness or weakness in the legs that keeps progressing should never be ignored. These are the signs of spinal cord or nerve compression. Delaying treatment can increase your risk of permanent loss of strength in your legs. See a healthcare expert immediately if you have difficulty moving or lifting your foot, have leg instability, or you experience frequent falls.
Loss of Bowel or Bladder Control
This is a medical emergency. If you experience urinary or bowel incontinence, with debilitating back pain and leg weakness, visit a neurosurgeon immediately. This can be a sign of cauda equina syndrome, a medical condition that requires prompt surgical intervention, typically between 12 and 24 hours.
The surgery aims to relieve nerve pressure. Delayed treatment can lead to permanent loss of bladder or bowel control and can even progress to permanent paralysis.
Pain after Accidents or Injuries
Sudden falls or serious accidents that hit your back must always be evaluated by a neurologist, especially if you have back pain, leg weakness, numbness, or loss of mobility after an accident. There can be vertebral fractures, disc rupture, or other serious issues that may require surgical repair.
