What a neurosurgeon wants you to know about back surgery

The prospect of having back surgery can be nerve-wracking, but knowing what to expect, from your first doctor's visit through the removal of your final stitch, may help ease that worry.

Knowing your procedure may be performed using minimally invasive techniques, something surgeons aim to do, might also be reassuring. This kind of surgery causes less nearby tissue damage than open surgery, and often results in a shorter recovery, a lower risk of complications and a less painful recuperation.

We spoke with Sabino D'Agostino, DO, a neurosurgeon with Trident Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina, to get the details on a variety of back surgeries, as well as tips for preparation and recovery.

Medically reviewed in April 2018.