You have had back pain before, so you know the routine: a hot pack, some rest and hoping it disappears. But this time the pain keeps returning, starts travelling down your leg, and you notice that sitting through a normal workday has become difficult.
That is when it is worth looking beyond temporary pain relief and finding out what is actually happening.
A spine surgeon evaluates conditions affecting the spine and nerves and can determine whether treatment should remain non-surgical or whether an operation needs to be considered.
Occasional back pain is common and often improves without surgery.
But if episodes keep returning, become more severe or progressively interfere with your activities, a specialist assessment can help identify possible causes and appropriate treatment.
Back pain accompanied by shooting pain, tingling, numbness or weakness in a leg can sometimes indicate nerve irritation.
This does not automatically mean you need an operation. However, neurological symptoms deserve proper assessment rather than repeated self-treatment.
Pain is not the only symptom that matters.
If you notice ongoing weakness, significant numbness or changes in your ability to walk or use your legs normally, seek medical evaluation promptly.
Sudden severe weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control requires urgent medical attention.
This is perhaps the biggest misconception around spine care.
Many patients delay a consultation because they believe a spine surgeon will immediately recommend an operation. In reality, a specialist can also recommend medication, physiotherapy, exercise, activity modification or other non-surgical approaches when appropriate.
The purpose of the consultation is to determine what treatment is suitable—not to force surgery.
We often meet patients who have spent months alternating between painkillers, massage and home remedies. One typical patient had recurring back pain with discomfort extending into the leg but had avoided specialist care because they were afraid of surgery.
The assessment focused first on the symptoms, neurological findings and likely cause. The treatment discussion then considered whether conservative care was appropriate before discussing any surgical option.
The lesson is simple: being evaluated by a surgeon and choosing surgery are two completely different decisions.
The doctor will ask when your symptoms started, where the pain travels, whether you have numbness or weakness and what activities make the symptoms better or worse.
A physical examination may assess movement, strength, reflexes and sensation.
Imaging such as an X-ray, CT scan or MRI may be recommended when it can help answer a specific clinical question.
Disc-related problems are a common source of confusion.
An MRI may show a disc bulge or other changes even in people who have little or no pain. That is why imaging findings should be interpreted alongside symptoms and examination findings.
A scan should support a diagnosis, not replace one.
Low back pain is one of the world's leading causes of disability. The World Health Organization reported that low back pain affected about 619 million people globally in 2020, with the number projected to reach around 843 million by 2050.
The scale of the problem makes sensible assessment important—but it does not mean every person with back pain needs specialist surgery.
Dr. A.K. Suchdev is an orthopedic surgeon who evaluates musculoskeletal conditions, including problems affecting the spine and movement. For patients with persistent back pain, radiating symptoms or functional limitations, a detailed assessment can help clarify the likely cause and determine whether non-surgical care, rehabilitation or further intervention should be considered. Treatment decisions depend on the individual's symptoms, examination findings and overall condition.
Consider a specialist assessment when back pain persists, repeatedly returns, affects your daily activities or is accompanied by leg pain, numbness, tingling or weakness.
No. Many spine conditions are initially managed without surgery. A specialist can help determine whether conservative treatment is appropriate.
Sudden significant weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin area or severe symptoms following major trauma require urgent medical evaluation.
You can consult a spine surgeon without agreeing to surgery.
If persistent back pain or nerve-related symptoms are interfering with your daily life, schedule a spine evaluation and understand what is actually causing the problem before deciding on treatment.
Dr. Anil Kumar Suchdev.All Rights Reserved © 2026
