MYTH
5- FOR LOWER-BACK PAIN, SPINAL FUSION IS BEST
The Origin
The vertebrae lining your backbone are cushioned by shock-absorbing discs. Over time, disc damage leads to micromovements that can trigger pain. Also, spinal nerves can be pinched, resulting in radiating leg pain. On an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI, the narrowing of space between vertebrae is often interpreted as disc degeneration and the source of pain. It would seem logical, then, that fusing vertebrae and/or removing bone would limit micromovements, make space for nerves, and ease the ache. This thinking led to a 70 percent spike in such surgeries from 2001 to 2011. About 400,000 are done annually.
The Truth
A recent study determined that up to 40 percent of people who undergo back surgery could continue to have significant pain afterward. Plus, rates of complication from such operations—some life-threatening—can be upwards of 20 percent. In fact, even with today’s medical advances, finding the cause of lower-back pain is very difficult. About 85 percent is the “nonspecific” type—no cause identified—and surgery is typically not the best option for these cases. In 2017, the American College of Physicians published new guidelines, recommending that doctors choose non-pharmacologic, nonsurgical options, such as exercise, physical therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy, to treat both acute and chronic lower-back pain.
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