Spine surgery is traditionally done as "open surgery," meaning the area being operated on is opened with a long incision to allow the surgeon to view and access the anatomy. Smoking is a key factor that impacts recovery from spine fusion surgery. Discectomy may be used if you have a bulging disc, a bone spur (a benign bony growth on a bone), or a herniated or slipped disc. Spinal fusion is carried out mostly for people with conditions such as spondylolisthesis (when one of your back bones slips forward and out of position) or severe degenerative disc disease (when the discs in your spinal cord gradually become worn down). Nicotine inhibits the fusion process and dramatically increases your chances of the fusion failing and creating a nonunion of the bone at the surgical site. Lumbar laminectomy and microdiscectomy is just a couple of back surgery examples. Spinal fusion is done most commonly in the lumbar region of the spine, but it is also used to treat cervical and thoracic problems. Minimally invasive techniques can now address the full range of spine disorders, including degenerative diseases, deformities and tumors. Patients suffering from spinal stenosis, disc herniations, slipped vertebrae; scoliosis and even cancer can benefit from this targeted surgical approach and return to normal activities more quickly without compromising long-term outcomes. Appropriate pain management after surgery can really help with the recovery process - both from a physical and emotional standpoint. Narcotic pain pills, anti-inflammatory medications and Tylenol are commonly prescribed for postoperative pain. Great improvements have been achieved in developing better techniques and tools in spine surgery.