Spine surgery -- how to find out if you really need it

Many of us will have to have spine surgery at some stage. The statistics all point to this. It is estimated that in the US 4.6 million of us will have to have spine surgery in our life time, and 533,839 spine operations were carried out just in 1999.

Fortunately, in many people, the results are good. For example, a research document published in 2005 of an assessment of 622 of 847 patients treated in 2002 reported 70 percent went back to their employment and their former daily lives. And, 85 percent told researchers they rarely if ever used drugs for pain, following their spine surgery.

Pain in the back is a common first sign you'll have to have surgery, as most of us appreciate.

The elderly will frequently feel back pain as old bumps and many years of incorrect posture eventually over take them.

You would be unwise to immediately ask for spine surgery, when you get the first pain. For one thing, it is going to be expensive. And, for another, in many cases pain is caused by things like soft tissue inflammation, muscle spasms, or arthritis. For these conditions you won't need surgery. A physiotherapist or someone like an experienced massage or acupuncture expert will often be able to help.

If the pain continues and surgery does seem required, your doctor should be able to determine this for sure by using standard examinations and x-ray techniques. Request these be used first. His expensive MRI machines will help if it is sure that spinal surgery is needed, but research shows that in around 85 percent of people an MRI scanner won't reveal anything extra that the traditonal (and cheaper) examination and x-ray missed.

However, once it is realized that surgery will be needed then the MRI scan will give your surgeon essential information about your spine.

You need to discuss your surgeon over that information, though. Because studies show that after five years those who'd experienced back pain and elected for surgery claimed to have about the same degree of relief from pain, or improved mobility, than those who didn't. So when your doctor talks about spine surgery, get a second opinion.

Article Source: http://articlekarma.com

Len McGrane writes extensively on spine surgery and what can be done to avoid it.

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