Is Back Surgery My Only Option?
For the TL;DR folks out there — NO! Not until it’s your very last out. See the thing about surgery is that there are exactly ZERO take-backs/do-overs/second chances. Whatever the surgeon ends up doing, well, that’s it. Back surgery has come a long way, and certain procedures are so commonplace that you’re in and out before you know it. However, even if the chances are low, human error is always a part of the equation — which could result in life-altering and irreversible changes.
See, over 90% of people will experience back pain during their life, due to many causes. Thankfully, less than 5% will need surgery. So why are so many operations being performed? Just because something happens often, doesn’t necessarily mean it is good for you or even warranted! You may be surprised to learn that an enormous number of back surgeries don’t give patients long-term relief. If you had multiple options of treating a condition or injury, why not start at the conservative end first? My advice to my patients, many of them having been prescribed surgery, is to exhaust all possible conservative options before signing off on the operation.
In highly insurance driven healthcare models, like in the US, the number of hoops a provider must jump through for reimbursement is a huge issue. It’s also a fair deduction that insurance companies make money by not paying out for claims deemed “not covered.” It is a wonder then that insurance companies actually reimburse for something known as “failed back surgery syndrome” — a testament to how often surgery leads to less than ideal outcomes.
The resolution of back pain traces back to correctly identifying the source of the pain. While some surgeries may be necessary to prevent further damage to the spine (roughly 5% of cases), research has discovered fewer than half of all spinal fusions are successful, and many don’t offer significant pain relief. In fact up to 94% of people will still have back pain after surgery, adding to the number of cases of failed back surgery. Nearly 20% of people will need a follow-up operation 10 years after surgery. Failed back surgery syndrome has been found in up to 21% of patients.
If you’ve been recommended an operation, we always encourage you to get a second opinion. Many times, surgeons will not adequately describe your follow up care plan post-surgery. In an attempt to get you on the surgical table, many patients are told how quick, easy, and routine the surgery is, while not being given proper care instructions. Many people think that after surgery, life goes on as normal, but the recovery time post surgery is an often hidden fact. The average recovery time post surgery is actually 4–6 weeks, with proper rehabilitation. Bottom line — you only have one spine, and the healthcare decisions you make today will affect your life for decades to come. The majority of people suffering from back pain can find relief without surgery, and research has continued to show that Chiropractic care is one of the most safe and effective options to help you on the road to relief. In my next blog, you’ll learn a bit more about the research that exists to further prove this claim.
