5 Signs You Need a Spine Surgeon

“My back is killing me.”

“I don’t remember what it feels like to not have back pain.”

“I wish my back felt good enough to do that.”

Back pain is a reality for thousands of Americans. Acute back pain— usually caused by a small injury or an awkward movement of the spine— can be treated with basic remedies like rest and over-the-counter NSAIDs like aspirin.

Sometimes, though, the pain can persist or become problematic. It can even feel like there’s no end in sight. Even with these feelings, many patients can avoid seeing a spine surgeon because they’re afraid the prognosis will definitely be surgery. It makes sense, right? A surgeon will always want to perform surgery.

That’s actually not true. Believe it or not, even if you have crippling back pain, you don’t always need surgery. There are other options out there that can help. But what about the few that need surgery?

Our expert spine surgeon gives the top 5 signs you may need to see a spine surgeon. If you feel like you or a loved one are seeing some of these signs, request your appointment today.

Sign1: Weakness, Numbness, or Tingling in Arms and Legs

Weakness, numbness, or tingling in your limbs is often caused by the compression of nerves around the spine. Your nerves can become compressed for a variety of reasons, including:

• Disc problems, such as herniated discs
• Overgrowth of bones
• Narrowing of the spinal canal
• And other conditions.

Nerves in the cervical spine control the functions of the upper body, while nerves in the lumbar spine control the lower body. This helps us identify where the problem may be occurring.

Sign 2: Bone Spurs in Your Spine

Bone spurs are most often caused by arthritis and can put undue pressure on your spinal cord. They tend to be a harmless consequence of aging, but bone spurs can occasionally grow to the point of compressing spinal nerves.

Some signs your bone spurs are causing problems include tingling, weakness, numbness, or pain radiating to your extremities.

Sign 3: You Have a Slipped or Bulging Disc

Between each of your 33 vertebrae is a series of buffers called “discs”. As we age or engage in certain activities, spinal discs can end up slipping, bulging, or rupturing. Usually, you can ease your disc back into place with some stretching and exercise— though consult your doctor first!

If exercise and stretching don’t work, it may be time to consult a spine surgeon.

Sign 4: You’re Getting Shorter

Diseases such as osteoporosis can make bones in the spine significantly weaker. As the bones get weaker, they get more brittle and can fracture. From there, the spine can collapse on itself causing you to lose height.

If you are dramatically hunched over or other options to relieve pain associated with osteoporosis are not effective, surgery may be necessary.

Sign 5: You Have More Bad Days than Good Days

If you don’t feel like you have the ability to live a “normal” life because of your back pain, it might be time to see a spine surgeon. Severe back pain can get in the way of your career, your personal life, and cause you to miss out on things with your loved ones. It can impact your quality of sleep, how you feel, how your body functions, and even your ability to stand.

Don’t live a limited lifestyle if you don’t have to.

General Signs to Look Out For

Not everyone has a medical diagnosis to work with before seeing a specialist. We encourage patients to make an appointment if they experience any of the following signs or symptoms:

• Back pain that either worsens or does not get better
• Numbness, weakness, or tingling in the arms, legs, or other parts of the body
• Pain that causes issues with fine motor skills, such as making a fist, opening makeup or personal hygiene containers, or tying knots
• Pain that leads to neck issues and worsens over time and with activity, think more than just “sleeping funny” for one night
• Sudden development of bowel and/or bladder problems

While broad, these symptoms may indicate a broader issue with your spine. It’s best to err on the side of caution and see a spine surgeon near you.

Meet Dr. Mathur

Dr. Mathur has devoted much of his education and career to advancing spinal research. He studied the effects of proteins on cell growth at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and presented his findings at an international conference. In addition, Dr. Mathur spent one year conducting research on bone metabolism under the mentorship of Dr. Kaplan. He was also Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. While at UNC, Dr. Mathur led the research team studying the optimal treatment for spinal cord injury as well as the genetic causations for scoliosis in adolescents. He has received several awards for his research including the Scoliosis Research Society award and Best New Investigator Award.

Learn more about Dr. Mathur.