Spinal fusion surgery can help improve your quality of life. It can help ease pain and related symptoms like tingling or numbness in your arms or legs. Less pain means that you can spend more time doing the things you enjoy. Most people who have spinal fusion surgery are happy with the results.
Spinal fusion can be used to:
Reshape the spine. Spinal fusion can help correct problems with the way the spine is formed. An example is when the spine curves sideways, also known as scoliosis.
Spinal weakness or instability. Too much motion between two spinal bones can make the spine unstable. This is a common side effect of severe arthritis in the spine. Spinal fusion can make the spine more stable.
Damaged disk. Spinal fusion might be used to stabilize the spine after a damaged disk is removed.
Spine surgery is usually recommended only when your doctor can pinpoint the source of your pain. To do this, your doctor may use imaging tests, such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
