Understanding Back Surgery
If you are one of the many people who are afflicted with back pain, you are not alone. If you have run out of options for treatment, surgery may be your only recourse. The risks of back surgery are the main consideration, of course, but you cannot overlook the expense involved. In this report, we will point out some of the different factors you should consider before you decide to have back surgery.
Chiropractic spinal adjustments and physical therapy treatments are well-known non-surgical alternatives to back pain surgery. There are other, newer non-invasive treatment options, as well, that aren’t as well known.
A lesser-known alternative that is proving effective is spinal decompression therapy. This type of therapy is a lot less expensive than surgery and has a much lower risk factor. It has also been approved by the FDA in America. What this does is gently elongates the spine, creating a small vacuum among the vertebrae. This pulls the disc back into shape and allows the injury to heal in a natural manner. It also increases the amount of blood and oxygen that the discs receive, which helps to speed up healing. Electrical stimulation has been used before for pain management; however the most common therapy is TENS, known as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Don’t overlook these newer techniques for relieving back pain. They are promising to be very effective and should be considered before back surgery.
Many people that decide to get back surgery failed to consider the long-term consequences of what may happen. Depending on the type of problem that you have, different outcomes will arise. However, for certain conditions, such as sciatica, studies show that the benefits gained from back surgery are not long lasting. The pain will be gone for about 20 weeks, and then it usually returns. When you factor in the cost of surgery and the potential risks, this should make you think carefully before choosing this option. It is important that you research the different types of back surgery to know what you’re looking at. Find out, not only what the short term effects are, but how well most patients fare in the long run.
Discuss with your surgeon the possibility and risks of your back condition becoming worse because of the surgery. This is something you need to seriously think about. A majority of back surgery occurs in the vicinity of the spinal cord. This vital part of your body is very delicate and can be easily damaged. 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. Find out as much as you can about the type of surgery your surgeon is considering, because each type has its own risks and you need to know what exactly you are facing. Compare the risks and the benefits of the surgery with your present back problems. And it’s important to thoroughly look into what other options and alternatives exist if you choose not to have surgery.
In the final analysis, no matter what kind of surgery you are facing, you need to intelligently and thoroughly weigh all the pros and cons. Any operation on your back, especially, demands that you carefully weigh your options. This report has given you a lot to think about. We’ve discussed some important benefits and risks of having a back operation to help you make an informed decision.
Posted in ChiropracticTagged back pain, back surgery, muscles, spine