So here you are, searching for as much info about Back pain as you can find, and you have come to a decent place to get started.
This article will present important considerations for you to consider about back surgery and what it can do for you.
It’s often said that you should get a second opinion before making any serious medical decisions. Nowhere is this advice more appropriate than when considering back surgery. Surgeons take back surgery seriously and, most likely, won’t recommend it until all the alternatives have been explored. Unless you are facing an emergency situation, there are usually other possible ways to treat back problems. Nevertheless, always let your surgeon know that you would like to get a second opinion before agreeing to have back surgery. Also, ask your surgeon about possible other treatment solutions to your problem and, when he or she gives them to you, ask for a comparison of the pros and cons of surgery versus the alternative treatment. Some doctors are quicker to suggest surgery than others. As you are considering the advantages and disadvantages of having back surgery, there are a number of questions that you should talk to your doctor/surgeon about. Your surgeon will need to explain to you what procedure he or she plans to perform, as there are many different types of back surgery and how the surgery will affect you. Can the surgeon give you an idea of how long you will have to stay in the hospital? This, of course, will vary with the type of surgery your doctor plans to perform and, the more invasive the procedure, the longer you will be hospitalized. A related question is, how long is the recovery time? Doctors will not be able to give you an exact answer, but they can give you an estimate. But, at least, you can get a general idea of how long you will have to take off of work, or will be incapacitated at home. How much pain will result from your surgery and what will the doctor recommend you do about it? What other limitations will you have and for how long?
There is always the risk, with any type of a surgical procedure, that the outcome will leave you worse off than before the surgery. This is something you have to keep in mind when making your decision. The spinal cord is right in the area where most back surgery is performed and this part of the body is very vulnerable. It doesn’t happen often, but the risk is always there that back surgery could result in paralysis, or even nerve damage, that is permanent. These risks will differ depending on the kind of surgery you are considering, so make sure you investigate this before making your decision. You have to weigh your current back problems against the risks that back surgery presents. And remember, it’s very important to find out, and think about, other types of treatment that may relieve your back problem in lieu of resorting to surgery.
No one looks forward to the prospect of back surgery, but if you have chronic back pain or an illness that affects your spine, it may be something you are considering. Before making this decision you should look into all of the possible alternatives.
How to Decide Whether or Not to Get Back Pain Surg 