Surgical and Non-Surgical Options to Find Relief

If I visit a spine surgeon, is surgery a foregone conclusion?

There are a variety of things we can do short of surgery to find relief for most patients. Surgery is always my last consideration. Non-surgical treatment options include injections, physical therapy, medications, and lifestyle changes. I try to maximize non-operative modalities to get patients back to doing the things they want to do. And the vast majority get better without surgery.

Is it a bad idea to research my symptoms online before I see a doctor?

There’s a lot of information on the internet. Much of it is true and much is not. I always tell my patients they know better than I do. I don’t live your life. I don’t know what goes on in your day-to-day experience. The information you give me is extremely valuable, sometimes as much as your X-rays and physical exam. I use it all in my decision making. Even telling me what you’ve researched online can offer me clues that help with your diagnosis.

What can I do to prepare for a visit to a spine surgeon?

Keeping a journal of your symptoms and past treatment is paramount. I very much need to know what your day-to-day life has been like to make sure the surgery I perform is the exact right surgery for you. The information in your journal can help me make that determination. If I send you to get an injection, I need to know what your response was. If you have physical therapy or try medications, I need to know what helped and what didn’t. All this information helps me determine the right surgery to make a difference for each unique patient.

Are there ways to slow-down arthritis or keep it from happening?

Arthritis is a complex disease, but living an overall healthy lifestyle is the best thing you can do for back health. Exercise. Eat well. Maintain a healthy weight. If I send you to the physical therapist and the exercises help you feel better, those are exercises you need to do for the rest of your life to keep your back healthy. Arthritis can occur because of your lifestyle, personal history of injury, genetics, or other factors. The very best thing you can do is maintain a healthy weight and be as active as possible. This will help keep your body functioning. So even if you develop arthritis, your healthy lifestyle will help mitigate many of the symptoms.

What should I look for in a spine surgeon?

In any specialty, you want a provider who treats you the way they’d treat their own family or friends. The decision to seek spine care can be intimidating. Look for a surgeon who presents you with options and lets you decide what works for you and your lifestyle. Again, I don’t live your life. My goal is to present you with viable options, make sure you understand them, then work with you to tailor those options based on your needs and desires.