If you’ve been having back pain for more than a few weeks, you’ve likely seen a doctor to find out what’s wrong and what exactly is going on with your body. In many cases, patients who experience persistent back pain may be advised to seek surgical treatment for their back pain. If this is your situation, it is strongly suggested that you make every effort to reserve back surgery as a last resort, after exhausting all other alternatives.
Because some individuals have chosen to put off having back surgery for as long as they can, many individuals have found effective alternative therapies to having the surgery. If you are thinking about getting surgery, it will be much simpler for you to make a decision that is in your best interest if you are familiar with the alternative treatments that can be performed on you and the results that you can anticipate from each one.
Back Procedures
It is predicted that every year in the United States, 600,000 people will require back surgery. Back pain is a leading cause of work-related disability. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the most common types of surgery are spinal decompression treatments, spinal fusions, and the implantation of prosthetic vertebral discs. The number of back pain patients electing to receive surgery has been on the rise in recent years. For example, the number of people who have had spinal fusion procedures performed on them has increased by more than 70% since 2001.
Surgical Error
Back surgery is done to treat back problems and long-term pain that individuals have been experiencing. However, the patient’s prognosis, on the other hand, is not guaranteed to get better after any procedure. It’s possible that after having surgery on your back, you won’t feel any better, and it’s also possible that you’ll feel considerably worse, which could cause you to have another surgery. In the event that your back surgery is not successful, you may not see any improvement in your symptoms at all.
Researchers looked into the health records of 1,450 workers who had been diagnosed with radiculopathy, disc degeneration, or herniated discs. The researchers put the results of the study into a report, which they then sent to the journal Spine, which agreed to publish it. According to the study’s findings, spinal fusion surgery was performed on fifty percent of the patients who participated in the research. Only 26% of people who had surgery have gone back to their previous occupational capacity. During this time, patients who had surgery also took 41% more painkillers.
If the back surgery doesn’t fix the problem, the patient may be diagnosed with failed back surgery syndrome. It is not a syndrome; rather, it is a name that symbolizes the circumstances and the suffering that individuals go through after having unsuccessful back surgery. But if a back surgery goes wrong, it could leave some people with back spasms, numbness, severe stabbing pain, and, in some cases, mental health problems, paralysis, or even death, especially in cases concerning medical malpractice.
Why Back Surgery Might Be Required
Not all back operations are preventable. For instance, if your spinal cord is being encroached upon by a tumor, mass, or blood clot. These may crush the nerve and cause severe problems. A change in your ability to control your bowel and bladder as well as foot drop are further red flags. These signs point to a more severe back problem, which may require surgery. However, medical necessity aside, there are many other options available to treat back pain.
When To Refrain from Back Surgery
When you are experiencing severe back pain, it may be difficult to think about forgoing back surgery. When compared to the risks we talked about above, a conservative method has little to no risk, and surgery is always an option as a back-up. For diseases including bulging discs, herniations, sciatica, stenosis, and others, a conservative approach should be used first. The most frequent back issues that can necessitate surgery are those listed above.
Many people think that by getting a second opinion, they can avoid having unneeded surgery. It’s simple to understand why this is a typical practice. It’s similar to asking two different mechanics to examine your car when you’re having automotive problems. Which mechanic is being more truthful with you is what you’re attempting to ascertain. However, a second opinion from someone who is not in the surgical field may be more valuable when it concerns your quality of life and mobility in the future.
It’s about pain reduction in the early stages of addressing your back pain. But keep in mind that your symptoms can reappear if you only seek pain treatment. You must identify the source of all your suffering if you want real, long-lasting answers. This could be caused by anything from the way you stand or sit to how you lift objects, or it could be a result of a previous injury you sustained in the past. The best thing to do in this situation is to work with a qualified professional who can help you figure out what’s going on and come up with a plan to fix it. Again, a chiropractor is frequently the ideal candidate for this position.
Why Should You Get Started by Making an Appointment to See a Chiropractor Right Away?
Our chiropractors have a lot of experience working with musculoskeletal problems, and because of this, they can help you feel less pain through the services they offer. Most people with back pain will, at some point in their lives, look into non-invasive treatment options such as chiropractic care as their first line of defense against the condition. It’s possible that chiropractic care and other non-invasive treatments, like non-steroidal drugs available over-the-counter, will be enough for some patients to put off back surgery until later in life. Other patients may be able to make a full recovery without the need for risky surgeries.
If you are suffering from back pain, contact Atlas Total Health Chiropractic by calling (866) 668-0108 or contacting us online to schedule your consultation. Discover what we can do for you to assist you with feeling better and restore you to optimal health.
