Vitamin C Supplement for Lumbar Spine Surgery

Lumbar spine surgeries are common procedures for management of low back pain and their prevalence is increasing. However, their outcomes are less than optimal. An effective and inexpensive solution to minimizing surgical complications and expediting recovery following lumbar spine surgery could be supplementation using high doses of vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid. Vit C can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation and improve immune system and body's own chemicals to fight pain. The researchers want to examine if Vit C is effective in decreasing pain and pain medications and improving function. Gaining a better understanding of effects of Vit C on patient recovery may lead to improved outcomes.