Back Surgery Risks

Facing back surgery risks is a difficult task for many frightened patients. While risk is an inherent part of any surgical procedure, there are definite factors which can be manipulated to improve the potential for excellent surgical results. Understanding and acknowledging these risks is an important part of preparation for any back surgery procedure.

Back Surgery Risks

Common Back Surgery Risks

There are many potential problems associated with back surgery. For detailed information on the full range of possible obstacles involved during spinal operations, please read my back surgery complications page.

* Failed back surgery syndrome

* Infection
* Nerve damage
* Deterioration of general health

* Post operative complications

Minimizing Back Surgery Risks

While no surgical procedure can be completely risk free, it is possible to minimize the risks by being a proactive patient with a deep understanding of your condition and proposed treatment. The following factors can be controlled by the patient to insure the best surgical result possible:

* Choose your back surgeon carefully. Do not accept that just any doctor can perform your procedure. Doctors come in all skill levels, same as any other profession. When it comes to a serious operation, it is wise to find the very best doctor available.

* Make sure your diagnosis is correct. Misdiagnosis of the actual cause of pain is the main reason for poor surgical results. Always consider the strong possibility that a long term treatment resistant back pain condition is actually being caused by a psychological pain syndrome.

* Try all non-invasive treatments first to make sure surgery is truly warranted. Surgery should be a LAST and FINAL resort when it comes to back pain treatment.

* Get your body and mind in good health before the procedure. Healthy patients recover faster and demonstrate better post operative results. Making sure your mind is prepared to deal with the operation is equally important, since a positive mind set will speed healing and counteract any nocebo effect experienced during the medical process.

* Prepare post operative care well in advance. Make sure you have all the resources and assistance you will need to achieve a great recovery. This is often an overlooked facet of spine surgery for many patients. Plan for the worst to occur and hope for the best. Make sure you can afford extended time away from your normal life.

Recommendation on Back Surgery Risks

A patient who has been pushed to the point of enduring surgery is often at the end of their proverbial rope. They have put all their eggs in a single basket, hoping the operation will finally cure their symptoms. The most common reason for surgery to fail is the identical reason why all the previous conservative treatments have failed. This point is rarely considered by patients before surgery, but seems super obvious to those with poor post surgical results. The main factor in determining which pain conditions will heal and which will not is a CORRECT DIAGNOSIS. This often overlooked facet of a pain problem is commonly taken for granted. A patient can never be sure of their diagnosis, but they can learn the common signs of a misdiagnosed condition. Remember that most physical pain conditions respond well to physical medical treatments. Conditions which continue long term and remain unresolved after numerous treatment attempts are good indicators of a psychological causation. Psychosomatic back pain is rarely correctly identified and is the most dangerous of all back surgery risks, since a psychogenic condition will NEVER truly heal from ANY physical treatment. Consider this carefully before making your choice to undergo spinal surgery...

Back Surgery Risks to Back Pain, Herniated Disc and Sciatica Home 1/16/08