Wednesday 3 October 2012

Lumbar Fusion- Get Rid Of The Debilitating Lower Back Pain

The spinal column of the human body consists of 24 vertebrae each of which is separated by a disc. The discs provide cushioning and separate the bones. The lumbar vertebrae are the five lowest in the spine and any sudden jolt or impact can push the disc out of position with the result that the bones grind against each other and cause pain. The pain may occur in the lower back going down to the leg and maybe accompanied by numbness or tingling. When the pain becomes persistent and debilitating then lumbar fusion may be the only option left. In this procedure the two lumbar vertebrae are fused together to stabilize the area so that the nerves face no obstruction.

To hold the vertebrae together while the bones fuse, the surgeon has to insert metal plates and screws. Once the bones are fused they make up one large bone which reduces the chances of recurring pain. Atlanta boasts of a number of excellent surgeons and spine surgery Atlanta is becoming quite common. Lumbar fusion has a high success rate and although it does not guarantee complete removal of pain, drastic reduction in pain does occur which makes for a better quality of life.