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Spinal Fusion Treatment for a Recurrent Herniated Disc

A herniated disc in your back can cause symptoms like lower back pain and pain in your legs. If the same disc in your back herniates more than once, it is called a recurrent herniated disc.

  1. Herniated Disc

    • A herniated disc occurs when one of the soft, flat discs that cushion the vertebrae in your back slips out of place and presses down on the nerves near your spine. Rest and anti-inflammatory medication are usually the first form of treatment for a herniated disc.

    Spinal Fusion

    • Spinal fusion is a surgical treatment involving the use of bone grafts or rods to fuse two or more vertebrae together. It can be used to treat a recurrent herniated disc because the protruding disc is removed during the procedure.

    Recovery

    • After undergoing spinal fusion to treat a recurrent herniated disc, you will need to learn how to move your body to keep the fused portion of your spine in the proper alignment while you heal. You will need help with everyday tasks like driving, shopping and household chores immediately after your surgery.

    Complications

    • Potential complications of spinal fusion surgery include the risk of infection, nerve damage and the chance that other discs in your back could herniate.

    Considerations

    • Because spinal fusion limits flexibility in your back, it is only used to treat recurrent herniated discs after other treatment methods like anti-inflammatory medications have not helped.

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