How a Spinal Fusion Can Relieve Pain from an Infection

Could you benefit from spinal fusion surgery? This procedure is an effective treatment option for spinal pain related to infections and structural problems.

At South Texas Spinal Clinic, our spinal medicine and orthopedics experts recommend the best treatment options for new and existing patients throughout San Antonio and South Texas. If you’re dealing with a spinal infection, here’s what you need to know about spinal fusion surgery.

Spinal infections and pain

Spinal infections involve bacteria or fungal organisms located in your vertebral column, intervertebral disc spaces, the spinal canal, or nearby soft tissues.

If you develop a spinal infection, either after a previous surgery or spontaneously, you could experience symptoms like fever, nausea, vomiting, back pain, leg pain, and radiating pain.

After trying conservative treatment options to address the problem, your provider at South Texas Spinal Clinic may recommend surgical treatment to remove damaged tissue and restore your spinal area. Spinal fusion surgery may be your best option for a full recovery and effective pain relief.

What is spinal fusion?

Spinal fusion surgery is one of the tools our team at South Texas Spinal Clinic uses to address and stabilize spinal problems.

In this procedure, we join two or more of your spinal bones or vertebrae to reduce or eliminate motion-related spinal pain.

After spinal fusion treatment, you may lose some degree of spinal flexibility. After all, the many connected vertebral bones allow your spine to bend and twist in so many ways. But, for many people dealing with chronic spinal problems and pain, the tradeoff is well worth it.

How spinal fusion works

In spinal fusion, we remove the cushioning disc that typically spaces your vertebrae and replace it with a bone graft. During post-surgical healing, new bone growth solidifies the graft. We may use rods, screws, plates, and wires to help your spine heal in the proper position.

Depending on your treatment needs, we can use a variety of approaches for your spinal fusion surgery. We may be able to access the treatment area through an incision in your abdomen or may need to enter through an incision in your back. 

Our South Texas Spinal Clinic care team has extensive experience in spinal surgery and keeps your procedure as minimally invasive as possible.

Why you might need spinal fusion surgery

We may recommend spinal fusion treatment if you suffer from chronic back or leg pain related to a spinal issue, including infection. Spinal fusion treatment is also an effective way to address degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, spinal deformities, spinal fractures, and tumors.

To learn more about how spinal fusion surgery can improve your condition and relieve symptoms of pain, inflammation, and fever, contact the team at South Texas Spinal Clinic. If your fever becomes dangerously high or you experience loss of consciousness, seek emergency care.

Schedule your appointment at South Texas Spinal Clinic by calling now or booking with our online tool.