Back Surgery

Back Surgery Q & A

When would I need back surgery?

Your back provides the foundational support for your entire body, and it’s responsible for a large part of your mobility. In this role, your back is under an enormous amount of pressure, which can take its toll over time.

If you’re dealing with persistent back pain that resists noninvasive treatments, surgery may be your best option. While Dr. Mobin exhausts every nonsurgical option available to him, there can come a time when you need surgical intervention to put an end to stubborn back pain.

The most common reasons why Dr. Mobin turns to back surgery is to treat:

• Nerve compression or pinched nerves
• Herniated or ruptured discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Bone spurs along your spine
• Radiculopathy
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Scoliosis

Wherever he can, Dr. Mobin relies on advanced techniques that reduce the collateral damage and risks associated with back surgery. Using specialized equipment, he preserves your soft tissue by going in through very small incisions to do the work and using a microscope to better visualize the area rather than opening it up completely.

What procedures are offered in back surgery?

Dr. Mobin is a board-certified neurosurgeon who offers the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques to relieve your back pain. To that end, he offers:

Disc replacement surgery

In this procedure, Dr. Mobin removes your damaged disc and replaces it with an artificial one.

Lumbar herniated disc surgery

If you have a herniated disc in your low back, Dr. Mobin surgically removes the portion that’s irritating the nerve and makes an annular repair to reduce your chances of disc re-herniation.

Lumbar spinal stenosis surgery

During this procedure, Dr. Mobin removes the bone outgrowths that are impinging your nerves.

eXtreme® Lateral Interbody Fusion

This approach to spinal fusion (where Dr. Mobin fuses your vertebrae together) is through your side, rather than through the back or front. By accessing your spine laterally, he reduces tissue damage, blood loss, postoperative discomfort, and recovery time.

What is recovery like after back surgery?

The answer to this question depends upon which surgical procedure you’re undergoing. Dr. Mobin makes every effort to use minimally invasive techniques to minimize the disruption that’s often associated with traditional, open back surgery.

When he can, Dr. Mobin performs your back surgery on an outpatient basis, which means you’re free to go home after he’s sure you’re recovering well. There are times, however, when it may be prudent for you to spend a night or two under close observation.

Once you get home, you’ll be armed with postoperative instructions that outline what you can and cannot do. You should count on resting your back for several weeks after your surgery to allow your body time to heal.

If you’d like to learn more about your options in back surgery, call Mobin Neurosurgery, or fill out the online form to request a consultation.