A new spinal procedure is getting patients back on their feet more quickly and with less pain.
This new spinal procedure, called Dynesys, is only done at St. Mary's Hospital and gives patients a normal range of motion while resuming to normal activities within six weeks.
Fusion surgery has been the traditional treatment for lower back and leg pain, but it stops any motion in that area of the spine and takes at least three months to recover and return to work.
Dr. Richard Carter, a neurologist from St. Mary's, says the new procedure is different. "This procedure allows you to stabilize the spine while at the same time not fuse and so what happens is you give the same structurally integrity to the spin as usually would be, but the advantage is you don't lose your range of motion."
Even though this procedure has been used in Europe for over 14 years, it's just been introduced in the United States and is used in limited cases.
Doctor Carter says the Europe community has expanded their use of this surgery and he expects that after two years, America will be able to do the same.
