Spine Surgery for Lower Back Pain in Connecticut

When non-surgical treatment is not enough to relieve your lower back pain, spine surgery may be the right next step. At Connecticut Back Center in Vernon, CT, board-certified spine surgeon Dr. Jesse Eisler, MD, PhD, performs a range of minimally invasive and traditional lumbar spine surgery procedures for patients throughout Greater Hartford and Central Connecticut – including Manchester, Glastonbury, South Windsor, Tolland, and East Hartford.

Surgery is never the first recommendation. But when it is necessary, Dr. Eisler employs the latest surgical techniques, including minimally invasive spine surgery approaches that reduce tissue disruption, shorten recovery time, and improve outcomes for appropriate candidates.

Common Causes of Chronic Lower Back Pain

• Lumbar herniated disc
• Degenerative disc disease
• Facet joint dysfunction
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Osteoarthritis
• Deformity
• Trauma
• Compression fracture

Types of Low Back Surgery

There are several types of low back surgery, and the right procedure depends on your specific diagnosis, anatomy, and overall health. Common lumbar spine surgery procedures performed at Connecticut Back Center include:

• Lumbar laminectomy – removal of bone to relieve pressure on spinal nerves, often used for spinal stenosis
• Lumbar microdiscectomy – microsurgical removal of herniated disc material pinching a nerve root
• Spinal fusion surgery – joining two or more vertebrae to stabilize the spine
• Interbody fusion – fusion from within the disc space, often combined with bone grafts
• Interbody fusion with cages – a less invasive fusion approach using implants to restore disc height and stability

Surgical Treatment Options for Chronic Lower Back Pain

When conservative treatments do not resolve your lower back pain, your specialist may recommend surgery to help alleviate your lower back pain. Recommended surgical treatment will depend on your individual situation. Below outlines several of the lower back pain surgeries commonly performed by the surgeons at Connecticut Back Center.

Lumbar Laminectomy

Lumbar laminectomy is a procedure that involves removing bone to relieve excess pressure on the spinal nerve(s) in the lower back or lumbar spine. Laminectomy removes the roof of the vertebrae to allow space for nerves exiting the spine. A lumbar laminectomy can relieve chronic lower back pain and leg pain that radiates.

When your spinal canal gradually narrows, it causes a condition called spinal stenosis. Narrowing occurs as your facet joints and discs degenerate. Arthritic facet joints can enlarge, decreasing space for nerve roots. Sometimes bone spurs protrude into the spinal canal. They put pressure on nerve roots, which causes back pain, pain radiating to the hips, buttocks and legs, plus numbness, tingling and muscle weakness in the back or legs and feet. We relieve pressure on spinal nerves by removing anything that is causing pressure. Learn more: Lumbar Laminectomy

Lumbar Microdiscectomy

Spine surgery for lumbar disc herniation is performed using a microscope and microsurgical techniques. Thanks to its magnification and illumination, the surgical microscope facilitates limited dissections. We only remove that portion of the herniated disc that is pinching nerve roots. Any pressure placed by a herniated disc on nerve roots can cause symptoms such as debilitating leg pain and weakness or numbness in your feet and legs. You may also experience bowel or bladder incontinence. If your symptoms are due to a pinched nerve you may be a candidate for microdiscectomy. Learn more: Lumbar Microdiscectomy

Spinal Fusion

The spinal fusion procedure involves placing bone grafts between adjacent spinal vertebrae to join the two structures together. When appropriate, we may use minimally invasive surgical techniques. If the vertebrae are fused together they stop rubbing against each other. By placing bone grafts or bone substitutes between the affected bones, graft material helps maintain normal disc height. During healing, the bone and bone graft can grow together and stabilize your spine. Learn more: Spinal Fusion

Interbody Fusion

Interbody fusion means uniting two bony segments, whether due to a fracture or a vertebral joint issue. Typically within four months, the bone grafts will unite the vertebrae above and below to form one piece of bone. The reasons for performing interbody fusion are to: Remove the degenerative disc, Separate the two vertebral bodies, as they were before the disc degenerated, Keep them in that position by interposing several pegs of bone (bone graft). Learn more: Interbody Fusion

Interbody Fusion with Cages

Interbody fusion using cages was designed as a less invasive method for achieving spinal fusion. This procedure opens the collapsed nerve canal and lifts pressure away from pinched nerve roots. A bone graft will grow through and around the implants, forming a bone bridge that connects the vertebral bodies above and below. Learn more: Interbody Fusion with Cages

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Many of the procedures above can be performed using minimally invasive spine surgery techniques. Compared to traditional open surgery, minimally invasive approaches use smaller incisions, reduce muscle damage, lower the risk of infection, and typically mean shorter hospital stays and faster recovery. Dr. Eisler will help you determine whether minimally invasive techniques are appropriate for your condition.

Low Back Surgery Recovery Time

Recovery time after low back surgery varies depending on the type of procedure performed and the patient’s overall health. Minimally invasive procedures like microdiscectomy often allow patients to return to light activity within a few weeks. More complex procedures such as spinal fusion may require several months of recovery and a structured physical therapy program.

Dr. Eisler and the CBC care team will provide detailed post-operative instructions and support throughout your recovery, including guidance on exercises after low back surgery to strengthen the spine and promote healing.