Back injuries, and back pain, which affect many people during the course of their lives sometimes may require back surgery to correct. Usually, doctors (and patients) prefer to take a "conservative" approach to back injuries rather than have back surgery. Such conservative therapies include: rest, rehabilitative and strengthening exercises, and medications to relieve the pain and stiffness.

When back surgery is required, there are a few things you should know, starting with the anatomy of the back. The "spinal column" or "backbone" is comprised of a "stack" of interconnected bones (known as "vertebrae"). Between each pair of vertebrae is a soft, jelly-filled "disc" that acts as a cushion. The spinal cord travels with a canal that runs through the spinal column.

Back pain, which can be extremely debilitating, can result from damage to either the vertebrae or the discs. An injury that causes the backbone to go out of proper alignment can cause pressure on the spinal column or the nerves that branch off of it, resulting in sometimes excruciating pain or numbness or weakness in the legs. Back surgery seeks to repair the damage, remove damaged discs or restore proper alignment.

One of the more common types of back surgery is called a "lumbar laminectomy and discectomy." In this type of back surgery, a portion of one or two vertebrae in the lower back are cut away, and one or two discs are removed. This type of back surgery is usually performed when a damaged disc is being pushed against the nerves coming out of the spinal canal, causing pain.

Another common type of back surgery is called a "spinal fusion." If back surgery to relieve pressure on the spinal canal fails to relieve pain, additional back surgery may be required, in the form of spinal fusion. Spinal fusion is a more serious type of back surgery, in which two or more consecutive vertebrae are "fused" together, either with bone grafts or with metal plates and screws or both.

After any type of back surgery, a program of rehabilitative exercises and/or rest are generally prescribed. With time to heal, back surgery may often provide significant relief of back pain.