| Spine surgery is something many of us will undergo at | | | | be expensive. And for another in many cases, pain is |
| some time. The numbers just can't be avoided! It is | | | | caused by things like inflammation of the soft tissue, |
| estimated 4.6 million of us will need spine surgery at | | | | muscle spasms, or arthritis. For this you will not need |
| some time, and 533,839 spine procedures were | | | | surgery. A physiotherapist or even a massage or |
| performed in 1999 alone. | | | | acupuncture technician will often be able to help. |
| Fortunately, in most cases, the results are good. For | | | | If the pain persists and surgery does seem necessary, |
| example, a report in 2005 of an assessment of 622 of | | | | your doctor will be able to find out with traditional |
| 847 patients treated in 2002 found 70 percent | | | | examinations and x-ray techniques. Ask for him to use |
| returned to work and full time activities. Even better, 85 | | | | them first. The expensive MRI scanners will help if the |
| percent reported they rarely if ever used medication | | | | diagnosis is that spinal surgery is required, but it would |
| for pain, following their operations. | | | | seem that in some 85 percent of cases the scanner |
| Pain in the back is the first sign of the need for | | | | will not find anything that the old fashioned exam and |
| surgery, of course. | | | | x-ray did not pick up. |
| In older people pain in the back is to be expected. As | | | | However, once it is thought that surgery will be |
| their muscles degenerate, or a lifetime of bad posture | | | | necessary then an MRI scan will give your surgeon |
| that has progressively stressed the spine catches up | | | | valuable, detailed information about your spine. |
| with them, they will feel pain. Further, years of wear | | | | You need to quiz your surgeon about that information, |
| and tear in the spine at old trauma sites, or overweight | | | | however. Because studies show that after five years |
| that causes the spine's discs to have less 'cushioning', | | | | people who had back pain and elected for surgery got |
| will have their effects. And the damage that results | | | | about the same degree of relief from pain, or |
| may need to be operated on. | | | | improved mobility, than those who didn't. So if your |
| Don't rush in to it, however. For one thing, it is going to | | | | doctor is talking about surgery, get a second opinion. |