This little white powder mixed with a little water could have you up and walking in no time.

It�s called RHBMP2. In simple terms, it�s a hormone that might give people with chronic back pain a reason to take a second look at surgery.

"Really what it does, it just lights the fire. It turns on the bone healing process," said Dr. Michael Longley.

Dr. Michael Longley, an orthopaedic spine surgeon, does 150 operations a year using RHBMP2.  It takes the place of a bone graft.

"Previously, we used to put either titanium or bone implants in to hold the spine in place and then we would take some bone graft from the patient's pelvis and put that in the implant to stimulate the bones to heal to each other," Dr. Longley said.

Now that step is cut out all together. Instead, the powder takes its place and the healing begins.

"In a lot of people, you can detect early bone healing that�s solid enough to allow people to return to pretty regular activities within about 3 months of the surgery. In the past, quite often, that took a lot longer," said Dr. Longley.

That�s good news for Kari Anderson. A childhood injury left her with severe back pain. She recently had the surgery using RHBMP2 and never felt better.

"It was definitely worth it. Now I don�t have the pains in my legs. I can walk and do other things," said Kari Anderson.

Thanks to this little white powder and the hands of Dr. Michael Longley.