Back Pain SmartSite ^TM

Learn about back surgery

How to learn more

You may want to know more about spine surgery. Your doctor may have already discussed this option with you.

Before deciding about surgery, it is important to:

Understand why you are having the surgery
Know about the different types of surgery
Understand life after surgery and how to get ready for it
Understand the risk of surgery

To learn more on your own, you can:

Select the "Surgery" menu option above for more information on this subject
Take the Back Surgery Decision Aid

If you have questions, please select the "Who To Contact" menu option above.

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Review Date: 4/3/2018

Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

View References:

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Cohen SP, Hanling S, Bicket MC, et al. Epidural steroid injections compared with gabapentin for lumbosacral radicular pain: multicenter randomized double blind comparative efficacy study. BMJ. 2015;350:h1748. PMID: 25883095 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25883095.

Chou R, Hashimoto R, Friedly J, et al. Epidural corticosteroid injections for radiculopathy and spinal stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2015;163(5):373-381. PMID: 26302454 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26302454.

Chou R. In the clinic. Low back pain. Ann Intern Med. 2014;160(11):ITC6-1. PMID: 25009837 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25009837.

Deyo RA, Von Korff M, Duhrkoop D. Opioids for low back pain. BMJ. 2015;350:g6380. PMID: 25561513 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25561513.

Eismont FJ, Norton RP, Hirsch BP. Surgical management of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2014;22(4):203-213. PMID: 24668350 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24668350.

Fritz JM, Magel JS, McFadden M, et al. Early physical therapy vs usual care in patients with recent-onset low back pain: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2015;314(14):1459-1467. PMID: 26461996 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26461996.

Furlan AD, Giraldo M, Baskwill A, Irvin E, Imamura M. Massage for low-back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(9):CD001929. PMID: 26329399 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26329399.

Gardocki RJ, Park AL. Degenerative disorders of the thoracic and lumbar spine. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, Canale ST, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 39.

Hooten WM, Cohen SP. Evaluation and treatment of low back pain: a clinically focused review for primary care specialists. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015;90(12):1699-1718. PMID: 26653300 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26653300.

Maas ET, Ostelo RW, Niemisto L, et al. Radiofrequency denervation for chronic low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(10):CD008572. PMID: 26495910 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26495910.

Manchikanti L, Cash KA, Pampati V, Falco FJ. Transforaminal epidural injections in chronic lumbar disc herniation: a randomized, double-blind, active-control trial. Pain Physician. 2014;17(4):E489-E501. PMID: 25054399 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25054399.

Mayer EAK, Maddela R. Interventional nonoperative management of neck and back pain. In: Steinmetz MP, Benzel EC, eds. Benzel's Spine Surgery: Techniques, Complication Avoidance, and Management. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 107.

Mazanec DJ, DeMicco RC. Medical management of neck and low back pain. In: Steinmetz MP, Benzel EC, eds. Benzel's Spine Surgery: Techniques, Complication Avoidance, and Management. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 106.

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Back Pain SmartSite TM

Learn about back surgery

How to learn more

Back Pain SmartSite ^TM