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Spine surgery is typically done to relieve pain and other symptoms by decreasing pressure on a compressed nerve or by stabilizing the spine. Laser spine surgery has never been studied in a controlled clinical trial to determine its effectiveness. Marketing pitches for spine surgery performed with a laser often make bold promises of pain relief for chronic neck and back pain and a quick return to normal life.

The Importance of a Proper Diagnosis
Most cases of back and neck pain are muscular in origin and do not require or benefit from surgery.The purpose of spine surgery typically is to relieve pain and other symptoms by decreasing pressure on a compressed spinal nerve or by stabilizing the spine. If more conservative treatments fail to reduce back pain, then surgery may be necessary, depending on your diagnosis.

Treatment for acute pain includes rest, physical therapy and pain relievers, but often acute pain will resolve over time and most often surgery is not needed or recommended. Some people with chronic back pain, however, will be good candidates for minimally invasive surgeries for disk decompression or repair and can have an outpatient procedure with a healing time of days or several weeks. But the vast majority of people don't require surgery.