Why choose Ascension Illinois for spine surgery
Experienced neurosurgeons at Ascension Illinois diagnose and treat many types of neck and back injuries and conditions. Your neurosurgeon works with a team of specialists and is part of an integrated national network of doctors, sharing best practices, knowledge and research while delivering advanced care close to home. Your care team has the expertise to help find the cause of your symptoms and deliver a treatment plan that helps relieve pain, increase movement and improve your quality of life. And, we connect you with advanced rehabilitation and support after surgery.
Spine conditions
Spine surgery may be an option if you have chronic back or neck pain that hasn’t gotten better with other treatment, such as injections, medication or noninvasive therapy. Your doctor works with you to create a personalized care plan.
Some spinal conditions that may require surgery include:
- Back pain
- Broken vertebra
- Cervical disk disease
- Herniated disk
- Infection
- Neck pain
- Sciatica (nerve pain in your lower back and down your leg)
- Scoliosis (curved spine) and other spinal deformities
- Spine infection
- Spinal instability (spondylolisthesis)
- Spinal stenosis or narrowing of the spinal canal
- Spinal tumor
- Spondylosis (age related degeneration of the spine)
Minimally-invasive spine surgery
When spine surgery is recommended as part of your care plan, experienced neurosurgeons at Ascension Illinois use the latest spine surgery techniques. Whenever possible, minimally invasive procedures are recommended, which use smaller incisions and may lead to less pain and a shorter recovery.
Types of spine surgery include:
- Cervical spine surgery
- Disk replacement
- Lumbar spine surgery
- Minimally invasive spine surgery
- Peripheral nerve surgery
- Removal of spinal tumors
- Robotic spine surgery
- Scoliosis surgery
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Spinal deformity correction surgery
- Spinal fusion surgery
- Spinal radiosurgery
From preparation for surgery through recovery, you’re connected with specialists in physical rehabilitation. We focus on neurorehabilitation therapies to help safely increase your muscular strength and flexibility.
Preparing for spine surgery
Your neurosurgeon will talk with you before surgery to help you prepare for your procedure. You may need to stop taking some medications, such as blood thinners and aspirin, before the procedure. If you smoke, you’ll need to stop smoking before surgery. Talk with your doctor about the right diet and exercise before your surgery to best support your recovery. Your care team will also tell you about any restrictions for eating and drinking before surgery.
What to expect after spine surgery
After surgery, your physical therapist will evaluate your needs, create a care plan for rehabilitation and make sure you’re prepared to go home. Your therapist will also help you with walking devices such as a cane or walker, if needed. Working with you and your care team, your physical therapist can help determine the level of physical therapy you may need to recover.