BACKGROUND: Intervertebral disc disease is defined as a complex of structural changes in the aftermath of disorders of mutual elements, the structure of which form the discus intervertebralis and the spinal canal. The present work assessed pain in patients who were surgically treated due to spinal discopathy and analyzed factors that determine the condition.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was carried on a group of 187 patients diagnosed with discopathy of the lumbosacral and cervical segment. The data are discussed in the context of medical records and the Visual Analogue Scale used for pain assessment. We used a prospective study plan with a 3-time assessment.

RESULTS: The pain level observed among patients prior to the procedure (M=6.52) was higher than after 7 days (M=3.15) and 6 months from the operation (M= 3.45). The highest level of pain (M=6.88), with a relatively high consistency among the patients (SD=2.25), was observed in the case of left-side hernia (H=7.31; p=0.023). The influence of the analyzed factors on pain experience markedly increased by the third assessment (R2=0.14), and was strongly associated with the type of work performed by the patient.

CONCLUSIONS: Surgical operation significantly reduces pain in patients with disc disorders. The level of pain is predominantly affected by the location of the hernia and the type of work performed by the patient.

Keywords: Intervertebral Disc - surgery, Pain - etiology, Pain Measurement - methods, Prospective Studies, Spinal Diseases - surgery