According to the NIH, it is estimated that up to 80% of people in the United States will experience low back pain at some point during their lifetimes, and at any given point about 26% of U.S. adults have low back pain. In this episode, we take a deep dive into back pain and modern spine care—why people need spine surgery, how conditions like herniated discs and spinal stenosis are diagnosed, and when surgery makes sense. We break down common procedures, explore how minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques are transforming outcomes, and discuss what recovery really looks like. We’ll also tackle common myths, highlight red flags that shouldn’t be ignored, and look ahead at the future of spine surgery. 

Learn more about Richard Hynes, MD