Most people with back or neck pain never need surgery, but sometimes the pain is so severe that it’s the only answer. Issues that can lead to a need for spinal surgery range from accidents that cause a herniated disk to degenerative conditions like arthritis.
Most people will be able to cope with those issues with pain medication, physical therapy, and other strategies, but a few will need more help. Here are some of the issues that may lead a patient to see a spinal surgeon.
- Damaged disks. We have disks in our backs—rubbery cushions between each...
