Spine Surgery
Spine surgery is a hallowed part of the
traditional medical
approach to
treating back pain.
Spinal operations have been used to treat almost every type of back ache condition, illness and injury. Technology has improved year over year, leading to better surgical results and fewer
complications.
However, spinal surgery should still be a LAST RESORT when it comes to options for achieving
back pain relief.It is simply a matter of facts which warn patients to be wary of surgical intervention. First, risk and complications abound. Next, the majority of conditions treated surgically turn out NOT to be the actual source of symptoms. Last, most patients DO NOT enjoy lasting relief and some get worse… much worse… after their operations are over. Minimally Invasive Spine SurgeryIf you do have to undergo any spinal operation, finding a minimally invasive version of the technique is by far the way to go! Spine Surgery as a Treatment OptionBack surgery should only be considered if there is NO DOUBT as to the actual cause of the pain. If many conservative treatments have failed, make sure to get a second opinion on the diagnosed condition before even considering surgical correction. If the diagnosis is not accurate, the surgery will fail, just as all the conservative treatments failed. Statistically, pain syndromes which have not resolved after a variety of conservative measures of care also respond badly to surgical treatment. Misdiagnosis of the true cause of the pain is the #1 reason for poor surgical results.Spine SurgeonsMake sure to shop around when it comes to finding a surgeon to perform any spinal surgery. Many orthopedic surgeons are not up on all the latest procedures and techniques in this fast changing field. Just because you have been under the care of a particular doctor does not mean that you have to allow that doctor to perform surgery. If you have to be undergo a major operation, make sure that the actual surgeon is the best and most knowledgeable available. Remember, if the diagnosis is right, then the most influential force in how a procedure will turn out is certainly your choice of surgeon. Make this choice carefully.Recommendation on Spine SurgerySpinal operations are sometimes used as a “BIG TICKET ITEM” to add $$$ to a doctor’s bottom line. Some less honorable practitioners set up a long regimen of unsuccessful treatments ending with a surgery for the “BIG BANG” of money at the end. Unfortunately for the patient, most of these treatments are either unnecessary or poorly prescribed, and the surgery is used prematurely. Back surgery is not a decision to take lightly. VERY FEW back problems will EVER REQUIRE surgery. Most conditions can be cured through conservative treatment. Remember, even with all the latest technology, spinal surgery is still traumatic and involves considerable risk. Think long and hard before agreeing to put your body and future health on the line…Be very careful with doctors who use fear tactics to get you onto their operating table. Dire warnings of paralysis, disability and increasing pain are usually myths. Be sure to get another opinion or two before agreeing to treatment with these kinds of strong-arm doctors. Spine Surgery to Back Pain 11/12/06 Revised 11/3/11 |
Sensei Adam Rostocki
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