Spinal fusion surgery requires a spinal surgeon to fuse one vertebral body to another. If you have experienced any of the following, you may want to visit a doctor to talk about spinal fusion in Los Angeles :

Disc Degeneration
One of the most common factors contributing to the need for spinal fusion is disc degeneration disease. This disease is a leading cause of both low back pain and neck pain. As the body ages, there is less fluid in the discs, which could reduce the shock absorption abilities of your spinal discs. You might also get small tears or cracks in the disk, which could eventually lead to a bulge or a break. Spinal fusion targets issues caused by mechanical back pain to reduce discomfort.

Deformities Caused by Spinal Stenosis
Spinal Stenosis leads to a reduction of spaces in the spine, which increases the amount of pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves. About 75% of all spinal stenosis cases affect the lumbar spine. Many people with spinal stenosis have pain in the lower back that radiates all the way down the leg. Age, arthritis, heredity, and trauma can all cause spinal stenosis. If you have this disorder, your doctor might suggest a spinal fusion as a treatment.

Isthmic Spondylolisthesis
Small cracks in the lumbar spine can turn into stress fractures. Within these cracks there is constant pressure, which keeps the area from healing as other bones would. This type of fracture is known as spondylolysis and may cause the vertebrae to slip forward. Although this condition often does not always cause significant symptoms, over time it can lead to lower back and buttocks pain, numbness, tingling, or muscle tightening. The spinal fusion procedure is often used to decrease discomfort caused by Isthmic Spondylolisthesis.

Fractures or Tumors
People who have fractures or tumors affecting the spine might also be good candidates for spinal fusion. If you are experiencing any pain or discomfort in your back or legs, schedule a consultation with a spine surgeon to see if the procedure can help.

The doctors at Marina Spine Center are some of the best spine surgeons serving Los Angeles . Dr. David Chang is one of the valued members of our team and one of the most skilled spine surgeons in the world.

Although Dr. Chang believes that certain technology advances the surgical field, he also admits that new procedures are not always right for everyone. Laser surgery can be useful for some injuries, but Dr. Chang does not believe that it can be fully controlled when targeting a sensitive area like the spine.

Minimally invasive procedures are becoming more popular, but there is still a long way to go before they completely replace old techniques. Check out this video to see why Dr. Chang and most other spine surgeons do not use laser spine surgery at this time.

If you have broken a vertebra, experience pain from certain movements, have a deformity with a spinal curve or slippages, or suffer from certain herniated discs, your doctor might decide to do a spinal fusion in Los Angeles . Keep reading to learn more about the procedure and how it can help you find relief:

Bone Grafts or Implants
Spinal fusion surgery can be done using bone from another part of the body or by using metal implants. In the first method, the spine surgeon takes a piece of the pelvic bone that can join together two vertebrae. Once the graft is complete, new bone can start to grow. In the implant

method, a surgeon will use metal implants to create a bridge between the vertebrae so that new bone can grow.

Target Areas
Spinal fusions are performed to reduce pressure on the spinal cord and the spinal nerves. It can also target fractures, spinal stenosis, and age-related spinal issues. If you are dealing with any of these problems, it is important to find a spine surgeon that can accurately determine if a spinal fusion is the right procedure for you.

Recovery Time
If you require a spinal fusion, after the surgery your doctor can assist you with pain management options like oral medications or intravenous injections to help you through any post-surgery discomfort. . After a spinal fusion, patients typically remain in the hospital for at least a few days after. Some patients will also be referred to spend a few days in a rehabilitation facility. You can return to your normal activities once your spine surgeon sees that new bone is growing and the affected area is healing. Depending on the recommendation of your doctor, some patients will need to wear a brace after they get the surgery to improve the healing process. It is important to work closely with your doctor and physical therapist to figure out when you can safely return to all of your normal activities.

Thoracic back pain affects the upper and the middle back and extends a little bit past the shoulder blades. The thoracic spine connects the cervical spine and the lumbar spine and can experience muscular problems, joint dysfunction, herniated discs, arthritis, and vertebral fractures that all lead to varying levels of pain. Keep reading to find out how you and your spinal surgeon serving Los Angeles can reduce and possibly eliminate your thoracic pain:

There are both minimally invasive and traditional procedures that can target pain in this part of the spine. A discectomy, laminotomy, a fusion, a laminectomy, or a kyphoplasty can be performed to fix issues that are causing pain in the thoracic spine. The kind of thoracic issue you are experiencing will affect the type of treatment you will need to fix it.

If you have issues in your upper or middle back, it is important to schedule a consultation with a spine doctor in your area. After a thorough exam, the doctor can determine the best solution for your specific pain issues.