In any given three-month period, about a quarter of the adults in the United States have at least one day of back pain. The nature of the pain isn’t always the same—back pain may be dull and achy or sharp and severe—but whatever the type of pain, it’s one the most common reasons people see their doctors and miss work. The good news about back pain, however, is that most people can get relief without spine surgery, and there are many things you can do to avoid it in the first place. See a Los Angeles spinal surgeon if you have persistent back pain, and try these tips for preventing back pain.

Practice Careful Lifting
Improper lifting techniques can be a one-way ticket to spine surgery. Instead of bending at the waist and using your back to lift, rely on your legs. Squat down and push upward with your leg muscles whenever you lift something heavy. Don’t carry heavy things for long distances, as doing so can cause damage like a stress fracture or pinched nerve. Enlist help when you need to move especially heavy items or carry something heavy for a distance.

Maintain a Healthy Weight
Being overweight puts an extra burden on your spine. Excess weight can cause compression of your vertebrae that can cause degenerative disc disease and other injuries to the spine. If you’re experiencing back pain on a regular basis and you’re overweight, your doctor may ask you to see if losing weight gives you any relief before referring you to a spine surgeon.

Eat a Healthy Diet
Your spine is made up of bone, and bones need the right nutrients to stay strong and healthy. Be sure to get plenty of vitamin D and calcium in your diet from foods like leafy green vegetables and low-fat dairy products, and foods that are fortified with these nutrients, like orange juice. If you’re concerned about your bone health, ask your doctor if you should take a nutritional supplement.

In this episode, Dr. David Chang advises a caller on post-operative pain after spinal fusion. Eleanor has had spine surgery a year ago and is facing residual pain from her buttocks down her back thigh, more on her right side and less on the left side. She describes her pain as overwhelming and, although she can walk, she has problems sitting up for an extended period of time. Dr. Chang describes the basics of a fusion surgery and possible complications after this procedure. Stenosis can develop after a fusion surgery, so it is highly important for the patient to learn the symptoms. Nerve rehabilitation can take 1 to 3 years post surgery.

Back pain that radiates down the leg could be an indicator of a problem in the back that may require spine surgery. Even if you have had a previous procedure, you may need another spine surgery to treat a different part of the back. Your spine surgeon serving Los Angeles can help you decide what the best treatment plan is for you. This video explains more.

In this video, you’ll find out why people who have had a previous spine surgery may require future procedures. Because the back is so complex, treatment for issues like a herniated disc and spinal stenosis are never really complete. Changing health issues and additional wear and tear can lead to the need for future surgery. Radiating back pain is frequently an indication of a spinal issue that may need surgical treatment.

Advise Radiating Back Pain from marinadelreyhospitalkevin on Vimeo .

Spine surgery is often recommended for chronic back pain that doesn’t respond to less invasive treatments, like spinal injections and physical therapy. While fusion surgery has long been the solution of choice for patients whose pain originated with a damaged disc, a new option is on the horizon: lumbar artificial disc replacement . This procedure has been performed regularly in Europe for years and is now becoming more common in the United States. If you are having lumbar spine surgery in Los Angeles, ask your doctor about this treatment and if it has advantages over fusion surgery. These facts will help you prepare for your appointment.

What Is Chronic Back Pain?
Chronic back pain lingers after an acute injury has healed or starts without obvious injury and continues for more than 12 weeks. In the lumbar spine , this kind of pain is often caused by an issue with one of the spongy discs that separate the vertebrae and prevent them from bumping into each other. In some cases, a disc may slip out of position and press against a nerve, causing pain. This is called a slipped disc. In other cases, the disc may be damaged because of wear and tear. Although some patients with disc problems are able to get relief with non-surgical treatments, like spinal injections, others require lumbar spine surgery.

How Can Artificial Disc Replacement Help?
In most cases, spinal fusion surgery is used to relieve disc-related chronic back pain. During this procedure, the damaged disc is removed and the vertebrae on either side of it are fused together. With artificial disc replacement, part of the disc or the entire disc is replaced by an artificial device. Because the new disc functions like a normal disc and no changes are made to the spine itself, some patients find faster, longer-lasting relief than they would with spinal fusion surgery. Your spine surgeon can help you decide which procedure is most likely to help with your symptoms.