Before You Book Spinal Surgery Read These 5 Essential Tips To Avoid Mistakes

Spine surgery can sound alarming, and if you are in chronic pain it can be tempting to go for the easiest option in the hope of relief. The best way to act is to ask questions and do your research before making a decision. Understanding your condition, spending time finding the right spinal surgeon, and getting the right diagnosis can be vital in getting well again.

Finding a surgeon

Ask your physician to refer a couple of names. You can usually research a good surgeon online – they may have their own site and they should be listed on professional medical association sites. It can be hard to compare, but when you do meet the surgeon ask questions like how many surgeries they have performed (and how many for your particular diagnosis), if they are fellowship trained, and how much of their total surgery time is spine-related.

Causes of pain

Sometimes the cause of back pain can be different to what’s been diagnosed. In these cases, surgery to fix the diagnosed problem might not get rid of the pain. It’s important to describe your symptoms and pain as clearly as possible. When considering spine surgery you should also ask the surgeon about the healing time, potential side effects, what the final outcome is meant to be, and what the alternatives are.

Making a decision

Before making a decision, you should have had some quite lengthy discussions with your surgeon. Those should have covered your medical and family history (if relevant), a physical exam, and possibly tests such as X-rays, CT or an MRI scan. The causes of back pain can vary hugely so it’s important you feel the surgeon understands the specifics of your situation. Terminology around back problems can be confusing, so it’s also important to make sure the long words match up to your actual symptoms. This is a good way to help figure if the proposed surgery will address those symptoms you are suffering.