喵咪社区

Back surgery is anything but simple. Consider these 4 points before you decide.

Since surgery for back pain involves the spine, decisions involving it merit ample consideration. Jeffrey C. Wang, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and co-director of the 喵咪社区 Spine Center,聽part of 喵咪社区, shares what to consider before making this big decision.

1. Know all of your treatment options

Back surgery should fit with your overall care plan and only be considered when it鈥檚 the best possible option.

鈥淭his means you鈥檝e tried all the reasonable nonsurgical options and conservative treatments, and you know the remaining options,鈥� Wang says. 鈥淭hen you can make a decision on whether to consider the surgery or try another treatment.鈥�

2. Understand the pros and cons of surgery

To make the right decision about surgery, it鈥檚 important to understand what you鈥檙e agreeing to.

鈥淵ou should have a basic grasp of your spinal condition and whether the surgery you鈥檙e considering is likely to alleviate your symptoms,鈥� Wang says.

Nothing in surgery is guaranteed, so you should be aware of both the potential benefits as well as the risks and complications that can arise. Wang adds that your doctor should be able to give you an idea of what they hope to accomplish with the surgery and how they would handle any unexpected complication that might arise.

3. Make sure you鈥檙e physically ready

Though this is usually the case, your doctor should have a thorough understanding of your current health and medical history to best guide you through the process. Wang suggests that patients undergo a complete medical evaluation and optimize their health before surgery, so they鈥檙e in the best physical shape possible. 鈥淭his evaluation often includes medical clearance, stopping all medications that could delay your recovery and making sure any pain medications you鈥檙e on are optimized prior to surgery.鈥�

4. Do your homework

Knowledge is power, particularly when making such an important decision. Therefore, talk to your surgeon openly and make sure they answer all your reasonable questions.

鈥淚 always want my patients to feel mentally comfortable with the surgery,鈥� Wang says. 鈥淵our hospital may offer preoperative classes, either in person or on the internet, that can provide you with extra information. There are many unanticipated questions that can come up during the preoperative period, and we want to try to anticipate them by offering plenty of information.鈥�

Even so, he says, being nervous is normal. If this is an elective surgery, you鈥檒l probably feel relatively comfortable. A red flag, on the other hand, is having a lot of doubts and being on the fence about the procedure. In that case, a face-to-face, preoperative meeting with your doctor can be helpful to make sure you understand everything.

Going through these steps can help you decide whether back surgery is indeed the best option for you 鈥� and ensures that you鈥檒l be prepared.

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