If you’re considering spinal fusion surgery in Las Vegas, Nevada, you may be wondering if you’re a good candidate for the procedure. In general, spinal fusion is most successful when used to treat conditions that have caused chronic pain and instability in the spine. However, target a Las Vegas, spinal fusion specialist who will optimize the proper treatment. Several factors can influence your candidacy for surgery, including the severity of your condition, your age, and overall health. Here are other medical conditions.
Degenerative Disc Disease
If you have degenerative disc disease, your spinal discs may wear down and lose cushioning. This can cause pain in the area where the bones in your spine meet and make it difficult to engage in daily activities like walking or bending.
If the degeneration of your discs is causing significant pain or emotional distress, this may be an indication that you’re a good candidate for spinal fusion surgery. In some cases, degenerative disc disease can be treated with non-surgical methods, including pain medications and physical therapy.
Spinal Stenosis
In the case of spinal stenosis, patients experience compression of their spinal cord or nerve roots due to a narrowing in the spine. In addition to pain, symptoms of spinal stenosis can include numbness and tingling, difficulty walking or performing other daily activities, and bowel or bladder problems.
In cases where spinal stenosis is causing significant symptoms that interfere with your daily life, it may be a good candidate for surgery. When successful, spinal fusion surgery results in a more even distribution of weight in the spine, reducing pain and stiffness.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis is a condition that causes one vertebra in your spine to slip forward over another. This causes pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots and can lead to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in your arms or legs. Spondylolisthesis can be caused by various issues, such as having multiple pregnancies, injury, and osteoporosis.
Suppose you have spondylolisthesis, causing pain that makes it challenging to engage in daily activities like walking or driving. In that case, you may be an ideal candidate for spinal fusion surgery. The procedure can fuse the vertebrae in your spine that is slipping forward over another, relieving pressure on the nerve roots and reducing pain or numbness in your arms and legs.
Kyphosis
Kyphosis occurs when your spine’s curvature in the area of your upper back is more significant than usual. It affects approximately 40 percent of women and 25 percent of men over the age of fifty, and it can cause pain or pressure on the spinal cord.
If you have severe kyphosis, spinal fusion surgery can help to ease pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots and improve mobility.
Bone Spurs
If you’re experiencing pain due to bone spurs, these are bony projections that form along your vertebrae. Bone spurs can grow larger over time and damage spinal nerves, which can cause numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain. Bone spurs are often caused by osteoarthritis, scoliosis, or degenerative disc disease.
If you have bone spurs that are causing pain that makes it challenging to engage in daily activities like walking or driving, you may be an ideal candidate for spinal fusion surgery.
If you’re experiencing chronic pain and instability in your spine, you may be a good candidate for spinal fusion surgery. Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that can treat degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and kyphosis. In many cases, spinal fusion surgery results in a more even distribution of weight in the spine, which reduces pain and stiffness.
