Newsletter

Back surgery is a serious decision for those who deal with chronic back pain. Invasive and requiring extensive rehabilitation, back surgery should be a last resort when other conservative treatments fail to bring relief. Back surgery is not guaranteed to have positive results and many factors contribute to the rate of success. All too often, follow-up surgeries are required when back surgery fails.

Why do back surgeries often fail to fix the problem?

There are many reasons why back surgeries are often unsuccessful. Often, surgeons are operating on muscles and vertebrae that have been injured or otherwise damaged. Scarring on the nerves, joints and tissue can lead to complications that are out of the surgeon’s hands. In some cases, spinal fusion surgeries, which lock up a portion of the spine, are successful in eliminating pain from an injury, but lead to future problems in other areas of the back. The health of the patient can also influence the outcome of back surgery, and recent research indicates that smoking puts patients at high risk for unsuccessful back surgery.[1]

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, or FBSS, occurs in nearly 40% of the cases[2] Back surgery is always a risky procedure with unreliable outcomes. No two back injuries are the same and each case presents its own unique problems that may lead to varying results.

How can spinal decompression help me avoid back surgery?

Chronic back and leg pain can have a tremendous impact on every aspect of your life. Restricted movement can limit your involvement in the sports you love, decrease your strength, and diminish your enjoyment of life. It is natural to want a “quick fix” for chronic back pain, but unfortunately one does not exist. Back surgery may be the final outcome, yet it is imperative to explore all conservative means of management first. Spinal decompression and physcial therapy have been shown to be an effictive combination in the treatment of disc injuries, spinal degenerative, and sciatica.

Our goal is to help manage and educate our patients on the conservative treatment of back injuries. Spinal decompression and physcial therapy are our main tools that we utilize, in a joint effort, to diminish the need for spinal surgery. However, if it appears surgery may indeed be required, our staff will refer you to the approprite physcians who can better help you in your decision process. The health and care of your condition is always our primary goal.

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failed_back_syndrome

[2] http://www.virtualmedicalcentre.com/diseases.asp?did=898&title=Failed-Back-Surgery-Syndrome-(FBSS)