What Happens If You Don’t Opt for Spinal Fusion Surgery?

Blog Summary:

• Spinal fusion is used to treat spinal instability, chronic back or neck pain, and nerve compression

• Not all patients need spinal fusion—many improve with conservative treatments

• Avoiding necessary fusion can lead to worsening pain, permanent nerve damage, and loss of mobility

• Conditions like degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis may require fusion if symptoms progress

• Most patients report high satisfaction when spinal fusion is appropriately recommended 

• Conservative care options include physical therapy, medications, injections, and spinal decompression

• Surgeon selection matters—experience and patient education reduce risk and improve outcomes

• Dr. Rafath Baig offers personalized 45-minute consultations to determine if surgery is truly needed

• The best next step is a detailed evaluation to explore both surgical and nonsurgical options

So, you find yourself in a situation where spinal fusion surgery has been recommended to you. Maybe you’ve been dealing with chronic instability for years. Or perhaps lower back pain or nerve pain have been plaguing you. Either way, you might think that you have to get spinal fusion surgery. But what happens if you don’t get it? That’s the very topic that this blog post aims to explore.

If you’re hesitating to move forward with a cervical or lumbar spinal fusion, we understand why. While spinal fusion is generally regarded as being a safe and effective procedure, for many people, it’s not necessary. There are less invasive treatment options available, depending on your circumstances, that may remedy your problems with less downtime, pain, and risk of infection. But in some cases, avoiding spinal fusion does come with certain risks, including worsening pain or continued loss of mobility.

At Desert Spine and Scoliosis Center, Dr. Rafath Baig takes a conservative approach to every case. Below, we’ll walk you through when spinal fusion may be necessary, what can happen if you delay it, and what your options are.

Why Might You Need Spinal Fusion Surgery?

Spinal fusion surgery helps to stabilize the spine when there’s too much movement happening between the vertebrae. This movement contributes to instability that in turn, can cause chronic neck or back pain, nerve compression, and weakness in the arms, legs, or both.

Many of the above symptoms are commonly associated with conditions such as degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, and spinal fracture, all of which can necessitate a spinal fusion.

Can You Avoid Spinal Fusion Surgery?

Oftentimes, yes, you can! For many patients, nonsurgical treatments offer a better alternative to fusion in that they have less associated risk while providing relief from symptoms associated with spinal instability. We cover this very topic in our blog post “Top 5 Conservative Treatments to Try Before Having Spinal Fusion Surgery”.

As outlined in that blog, many patients find success with:

1. Medication management

2. Physical therapy

3. Lifestyle modifications

4. Alternative supplemental treatments

5. Spinal decompression (often especially helpful with spinal stenosis)

For patients who are good candidates for nonsurgical treatments, not having a spinal fusion is often the smart choice.

What Happens If You Don’t Have Spine Fusion Surgery

A number of things can happen if you don’t get spinal fusion surgery.

If it’s determined that a nonsurgical treatment is the best course of action based on your situation, then not having spinal fusion could actually be a good thing, allowing you a reduction of troubling symptoms without any of the risk associated with surgery.

If on the other hand, it’s determined that spinal fusion is in fact, the best course of action – such as in cases of extreme instability or nerve compression – then delaying or avoiding spinal fusion can result in:

• Potential permanent nerve damage

• Loss of strength

• Worsening pain

• Spinal deformity

• An increasingly lower quality of life

Curious to learn more about what your options are in regard to fusion surgery? Check out our blog post “Understanding the Main Types of Spine Fusion Surgery” now.

What Percentage of People Regret Having Spinal Fusion Surgery?

Most individuals who undergo spinal lumbar fusion or spinal cervical fusion do so under advisement of an experienced surgeon.

With that being said, according to one study, the overwhelming majority of patients who undergo spine surgery for degenerative conditions – 92% to be exact – are happy with their decision. That means about 8% of patients regret having spine surgery in general. These figures were reflective of multiple types of surgery, including decompression, fusion, and disc replacement, so the actual percentage of people unhappy with fusion only may be smaller.

Is Spinal Fusion Worth It?

For patients who experience regular ongoing instability or nerve compression, then yes, spinal fusion can be a safe, effective, and life-changing procedure. Many patients who have fusion experience a much-improved quality of life and reduction in pain, not to mention mental frustration. However, fusion isn’t right for everyone. It’s important, therefore, to discuss the associated risks and benefits with a qualified orthopaedic surgeon who can help you make an informed decision.

Why Surgeon Selection is Crucial

Spinal fusion is considered a major surgery. You deserve a surgeon who takes the time to listen to your needs and concerns not to mention a surgeon who takes the time to educate you on the risks and benefits associated with surgery.

That’s why Dr. Baig spends at least 45 minutes with each new patient.

You should never feel pushed into surgery. You should always have access to a clinician who gives you an honest expert opinion about your treatment options. What’s more, you deserve a clinician who has the experience required to perform fusion properly so that there’s a reduced risk of requiring repeat surgery.

Final Thoughts

Not everyone will need spinal fusion. For those who don’t not getting it is the right choice. But some people seriously benefit from fusion. If it’s been recommended to you and your condition is progressing, don’t ignore the warning signs. Instead, schedule a medical consultation to determine if surgery is right for you.