Back And Spine Surgery

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Back Pain Surgery Is It For You ?

If you are considering spinal surgery or have had back surgery suggested to you, it is vital that you are fully informed about spinal surgery options and the risks and benefits to you. This page covers some of these considerations in back surgery.

To undergo spine surgery is a serious decision and is not to be undertaken lightly, you need to be certain it is the correct choice for you. There are many different spine surgeries that may be considered for you . It is important that you know the reasons and the differences. Just some of them are Discectomy, Foraminotomy, IntraDiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET), Spinal Fusion and Spinal Laminectomy.

Unless there are circumstances which make spine surgery urgent and essential it is always worthwhile talking through the pros and cons of having the surgery with your healthcare providers and surgeon and if possible considering trying less invasive alternatives first.

Please consider taking part in the polls and leaving your opinions and any experiences of back and spine surgery in the comments towards the end of the page. Thankyou!

Gentle hugs

jasmine ann

Your Experience of Spinal Surgery

I know people who would not touch back surgery with a barge pole and I also know people who have had a very successful spinal surgery. My uncle had a very difficult and long recovery from back surgery yet a friend of mine had a wonderful and very successful recovery.

Each of us is different and there are many mitigating factors. I would appreciate you taking part in this poll just to see what experiences we have.

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7 Day Back Pain Cure Book -Give Away

What are the alternatives to back and spine surgery?

A good starting point is this back pain book from The Healthy Back Institute. 7 Day back Pain cure is currently being given away if you order now.
7 Day Back Pain Cure Book -Give Away
Jesse Cannone the author says you can read about the following in his book.

Learn about several highly effective treatments

Which treatments are good for you and your specific situation, not generic exercises you may have been given before...

Learn what to do to sort out the back problems caused by sitting all day

You get Jesse Cannones "7-Day Action Plans" which tell you what you need to do based on the condition you are dealing with...

6 simple lifestyle changes you can make TODAY

Red Flags And Back Pain

When It is Essential You Are Checked Out By A Qualified medical practitioner

Red Flags And Back Pain
These appear to be the red flags raised among many professionals regarding back pain.

This is not a definitive list but if you experience any of the following it is wise for you to consult with a healthcare professional urgently:

After Spine Surgery Total Body Support Pillow

Check with your doctor what support you would benefit from after spine surgery

The Total Body Support Pillow.

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Educating Yourself Before Preparing For Spinal Surgery

It is important that if you decide to go ahead with back surgery you are fully prepared and have done all you can to prepare yourself to give it the best chance of success.

Read these three very useful articles from Spine Universe to help yourself.
5 Important Points About Back Surgery-
From The Page:

While most problems that cause back pain and sciatica can be treated successfully without surgical intervention, sometimes spine surgery is necessary. Listed below are five important points you want to know about spine surgery.
Are You Ready For Surgery?
From the page:

The morning you have been dreading has come. It is the crack of dawn and your family is about to help you to the car and drive you to the hospital for your long awaited operation. Have you done everything you could to prepare for surgery?
It seems like a strange question, doesn't it? What do you mean: have I done everything I could to prepare for surgery? I don't need to prepare for surgery-my surgeon needs to prepare for surgery. I just need to show up.

On the contrary, you need to prepare for your surgery just as much as your surgeon does.
Second Opinion On Spine Surgery? Would You Ask?
From the page:

"Would it be all right if I got a second opinion?"

Most people don't dare to ask that of their spine surgeon. After the doctor recommends surgery to help relieve back or neck pain, patients may want to ask if they can get a second opinion but few actually do. Perhaps it feels disrespectful-the surgeon clearly knows what he's talking about, and it would seem insulting to second guess him. But asking for a second opinion isn't second guessing; it's actually being a first-rate patient. It's taking a very active role in your treatment and recovery.

What Types Of Spine Surgery Are Available?

Article explaining the main types of back pain surgery.
Types Of Back Surgery Available
From The Page:

Surgery for back pain is generally not recommended unless all other options of treatment have been tried and unless emergency surgery is required.

There are different types of surgery for different diagnoses. Surgery can fall into 3 main categories; nerve decompression, fusion of bony segments and deformity correction.
Surgical Procedures
From The page:

In the most serious cases, when the condition does not respond to other therapies, surgery may relieve pain caused by back problems or serious musculoskeletal injuries. Surgical procedures can include:

# Discectomy
# Foraminotomy
# IntraDiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET)
# Nucleoplasty
# Radiofrequency Lesioning
# Spinal Fusion
# Spinal Laminectomy

Some surgical procedures may be performed in a doctor's office under local anesthesia, while others require hospitalization.
Surgery For Back Pain
From The Page:

Surgery is an absolute last resort for the treatment of back pain (unless it is required for a surgical emergency).

Your physician may suggest that you consider surgery if you continue to experience considerable pain despite nonsurgical treatment and if the cause of your back pain is due to something that can be surgically corrected.

Spine Reliever Delux Pillow

May be Useful Before Or After Spine Surgery

Check with your doctor if you have had spine surgery

Spine Reliever Deluxe Body Pillow

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Do You Really Need Spine Surgery?

Dr Aaron Filler -Neurosurgeon

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Do You Need Back Surgery?

Dr Aaron Filler neurosurgeon

A Surgeon's Guide to Back and Neck Pain and How to Choose Your Treatment
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Questions To Ask Your Surgeon About Spine Surgery

Back pain Surgery Questions.

These are some questions I asked when I was referred to a neurosurgeon to consider having surgery. There may well be many more you can think of but just a starting point.

I dont know about you but my mind goes blank when i am in a surgeons office so i found it best to write down all my questions first then I can just read them.

My neurosurgeon said he liked it when people came in prepared as he then knew that concerns were addressed.

Questions you may like to ask your surgeon about your back issues and surgery

What is the exact diagnosis?

What assessments will you do and what will the assessments tell you about my condition?

Is it essential/urgent I have back surgery now? If yes why?

If it is not urgent/essential I have surgery now can I try other treatments first then come back?

What is the specific back pain surgery you are proposing? How will this help me?

What is the prognosis for my back if I do not have surgery?

Do I need any other tests for my spine/back or general health ? If so which ones? What will they tell you?

Is there a waiting list for back surgery? If so how long?

What happens if the back surgery doesnt work?

Could I be worse off/more backpain or sciatica after the surgery?

What are the risks to my spine or my general health?

How long will I be in recovery after the back surgery?

Will I need to do any maintenance or back exercises after the surgery? If so what?
How many appointments will I need? How frequently?

What exactly will this treatment do for me?

Will it cost me anything?

How often do you /this hospital perform this back surgery?

The bottom line is to be as informed as possible before you make a decision.

Articles Does Spinal Surgery Help Back Pain?

Can spinal surgery help low back pain sufferers? From Arthritis Today.
From The page:

Reproduced from Issue 130 of Arthritis Today

There are conflicting views about whether severe back pain can be improved by certain types of surgery, or whether it's better to leave the back to heal by itself. Jane Tadman looks at the pros and cons.
Should I Have Back Surgery?
From The Page:

In certain cases, surgery can significantly help back pain sufferers. For many, it can completely abolish the pain; for others, it can greatly reducing the level of pain suffered daily. But surgery is always a last resort, offered when conservative treatments have failed (unless there is an emergency indication for surgery).

Back surgery has suffered an unhappy reputation over the years. Yet there are large numbers of people throughout the world whose back pain has been abolished or greatly relieved through surgery. However, there are many people whose back pain was not at all improved after surgery, and sometimes even made worse.
Back And Neck Surgery
The primary purpose of back surgery or neck surgery is to correct an anatomical lesion in individuals who fail to show improvement with conservative treatment. For those patients who have pain, but no anatomical lesion can be identified that accounts for their pain, surgery is not an option. Surgery is useful only to change a patient's anatomy (e.g. remove a disc herniation). There is almost never any reason to consider exploratory surgery to "look" for a cause of pain.
Controversies About Spinal Fusion Surgery
While physicians agree on many things about spine fusion surgery, there are some areas that lack consensus. Two such areas are the type of bone used (autograft vs. allograft) and how many levels should be fused.

Video Of Spine Surgery

Please note this is a video of actual spine surgery with detailed images of the surgical site. Some viewers may find it distressing..
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Choosing A Spine Surgeon

It is vital if you are considering spine surgery that you are comfortable with and feel secure with the expertise of you spine surgeon. Here are articles from Spine-health on how to choose a good surgeon and what to look out for.
Red Flags when Choosing A Spine Surgeon
From the page:

If a spine surgeon does not allow questions, acts disdainful of being questioned or if you find that your questions have not been adequately addressed, you should be cautious about having the procedure.
How To Select A Spine Surgeon
In addition to specific questions, there are three general considerations that can help guide your selection of a surgeon:
Specific Questions To Ask Your Spine Sugeon
Questions you need to be asking of your Spine Surgeon.

Back Pain 10 Point Plan

I have written a guide or rather a 10 point plan how to take back control over your back and sciatic pain based on my own experiences and what I learned.

I wrote this to help people so that you can have the benefit of my experiences and what helped me to do and consider.

If you would like to receive and read it please sign up for it by following the link below. You do not have to pay for it.

"Your Back Pain 10 Point Plan"

Covered in The Plan

1. Never give up! Keep searching for your solution.

2. Tackle stress, anxiety and depression.

3. Back care questions.

4. Don't continue doing what doesn't work

5. Record your pain.

6. Explain your pain.

7.Relieving Pain

8.Looking After Your Posture

9. Do You Really Need Back Surgery?

10. Know your body. Your responsibilities.

Spine Issues? Body Pillow Memory Foam

Memory foam moulds to you r shape and gives support.

Check with your doctor if you have had spine surgery

SilverRest Sleep Shop Extra-Comfort Memory Foam Body Pillow

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Spine Surgery Rehabilitiation

Spinal Surgery Aftercare

Back pain surgery is not the end of caring for your back. Rehabilitation is extremely important after any spine surgery and an important part of your discussion with your surgeon.
Rehabilitation After Spine Surgery
From The Page:

After an incorrect preoperative diagnosis and subsequent spine surgery, probably the second most common cause of failed back surgery syndrome is improper and/or inadequate postoperative rehabilitation. As stated earlier, it often takes months to a year to heal after many of these back surgeries, and a postoperative rehabilitation program that includes stretching, strengthening and conditioning is an important part of any successful spine surgery.
Spinal Surgery Rehabilitation
From the page:

Most people who have spinal surgery experience good to excellent results. They find significant relief of pain and the return of functional movement and strength, enabling them to walk, sit, drive a car, and cope with the activities of daily life.

Patients often report improvements in the way they feel immediately after they awake from the surgery. Although many patients see and feel immediate benefits, they maximize the benefits of surgery by taking part in a comprehensive rehabilitation program.

Learn about spinal rehabilitation after surgery including

* what you can do to control your pain when you return home
* how to move your body safely as you heal from surgery
* why outpatient physical therapy may be beneficial

What Is Failed Back Surgery Syndrome?

Causes Of Failed back Surgery Syndrome By: Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
From The Page:

Diagnostics for failed back surgery syndrome

A comprehensive physical examination and appropriate diagnostic imaging techniques can often pinpoint the responsible pathology. For instance, a definitive diagnosis of recurrent disc herniation or other disorders may be made.

In a number of cases, however, an MRI scan reveals only the presence of scar tissue as a remarkable finding, suggesting to some clinicians and researchers that the scar tissue is the likely source of the continued back pain and/or leg pain after spine surgery.....

Causes of pain after failed back surgery

At this point, the physician and patient will need to take a fresh look at the problem to exclude other causes of postoperative pain.
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome What Is it? How To Avoid It.
Failed back surgery syndrome (also called FBSS, or failed back syndrome) is a misnomer, as it is not actually a syndrome - it is a very generalized term that is often used to describe the condition of patients who have not had a successful result with back surgery or spine surgery. There is no equivalent term for this in any other type of surgery (e.g. there is no failed cardiac surgery syndrome, failed knee surgery syndrome, etc).

There are many reasons that a surgery may or may not work, and even with the best surgeon and for the best indications, spine surgery is no more than 95% predictive of a successful result.

Back Pain Book

Research alternatives to back surgery

You owe it to yourself to learn all you can about ALL the options open to you including those that are much less invasive or not invasive at all , before you commit to back surgery. A great way to do this is to get Jesse Cannones Free Back Pain book from The Healthy Back Institute. In it you will learn about several highly effective treatments, some you may not have heard about.

Spine Surgery For Neck Pain?

Before You Do Read This - Lose The Neck Pain Without Surgery!

Lose the neck pain you are experincing without resorting to surgery.

Surgery is a huge step to take and it is worthwhile exploring less invasive methods fist.
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Visit My Other Back Pain Sites.

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Life With My Pet Back Blog

This is me blogging about coping with and rehab from life with my back issues. Includes articles from back experts, useful sites and caring for your back.
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What Are Your Experiences Of Spinal Surgery?

Love to hear your comments and if you have any experience of spine surgery-positive or negative or somewhere in between- or hints and tips to help others, you are welcome to post here.

Please note I read every comment before publishing and appreciate you taking the time. I do not allow spam comments or links so please do not leave them as I will not be able to publish your comment.

Thank you . Gentle Hugs

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  • Reply
    Placemats Jan 15, 2012 @ 5:06 am | delete
    I have had 3 back surgeries in the last 5 years, all L5/S1. Two laminectomys and the final one which was a full discectomy with fusion. All though I am immobile, I still have daily pain and use natural as well as prescription medicine to get through each day. Good lens.
  • Reply
    JillY88 Dec 9, 2011 @ 11:15 pm | delete
    Very informative lens. My husband had back surgery about 8 yrs ago, prolapsed disc. He couldn't even walk, it was so bad. He recovered well and doesn't have many problems, only if he over does it on the shovel. Having back pain can tear your life apart. Nice lens.
  • Reply
    nightbear Sep 16, 2011 @ 4:58 pm | delete
    An amazing and detailed lens filled with very valid and important information. Well done JasmineAnn. I have struggled with back problems "forever" and I am doing all I can to avoid surgery. But this kind of information is essential. Blessed!
  • Reply
    andrew fields Jun 25, 2011 @ 8:41 pm | delete
    I am one of those who are battling for back pain. It started when i was just at the age of 15 up to present. It really give me a hard time to sleep , as of now i'm planning to undergo surgery. Anyway thanks for this sort i found t really informative and i learn a lot from it.
  • Reply
    andrew fields Jun 25, 2011 @ 8:24 pm | delete
    I am battling for back pain since i was at the age of 17 till present. I do admire this sort it is really informative. i do really learn a lot of it. i will surely share it with my friends. Keep it up
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About Me

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My Back Pain Sites

Sciatica Sleep Solutions
If Sciatic or Back pain is disturbing your sleep check out this site with information , suggestions and products to help you.
My Pet Back
Through educative articles and information learn to look after your back

DISCLAIMER FOR SPINE SURGERY SITE

I am a recovering back pain sufferer and not a medical expert.This lens contains personal opinions that are not intended as medical advice. The contents are not intended to diagnose, treat or give a medical opinion.

The information here is no substitute for medical diagnosis and guidance. Consult a physician in all matters relating to health, particularly concerning any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. Never disregard medical advice, or delay or change treatment because of something you have read here. For assistance with back pain, or any other medical condition, always consult a qualified healthcare professional. You health is your responsibility.

News On Back Surgery

New surgery relieves spinal pain
(NewsUSA) - Open spine surgery and spinal fusion surgery are the only kinds of surgery that have a clinical term for failure -- Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS). FBSS is a term used to describe the condition of patients who do not experience relief ...

Bloggers About Back Pain Surgery

New surgery relieves spinal pain
(NewsUSA) - Open spine surgery and spinal fusion surgery are the only kinds of surgery that have a clinical term for failure -- Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS). FBSS is a term used to describe the condition of patients who do not experience relief ...

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jasmineann

Here you will find an eclectic mix of pages Jasmine ann has written reflecting her interests, life, health-including back issues, and her love of animals/nature... more »

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LIFE WITH MY PET BACK 

Blogging about life with back and sciatic issues. Helpful information.

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BACK PAIN INFORMATION 

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Comfort Body Pillow 

Comfort-U Total Body Pillow Full Support Pillow CU9000

Amazon Price: $98.50 (as of 02/17/2012)Buy Now