Surgery for low back pain review

[admin]

The May issue of the Journal Spine included a review of the effectiveness of surgery for low back pain. Their conclusion was:

"Surgery for radiculopathy with herniated lumbar disc and symptomatic spinal stenosis is associated with short-term benefits compared to nonsurgical therapy, though benefits diminish with long-term follow-up in some trials. For nonradicular back pain with common degenerative changes, fusion is no more effective than intensive rehabilitation, but associated with small to moderate benefits compared to standard nonsurgical therapy."

Here's the abstract on PubMed.

What do you think of this?

[Augustine5I]

Hello Admin,

Surgical intervention of the lumbar spine should always be a last resort. The decision to undergo any kind of surgery for the lower back should be dependent on one's quality of life. As lower back pain diminishes a person's quality of life, (e.g. walking, recreational activity, sexual activity) surgery becomes more and more attractive.

However, as you mentioned, outcomes are not always that great. One out of every five lower back surgeries fail. I don't like those odds.

Whenever possible, every possible resource should be explored. And at least three opinions from three different surgeons should be sought.

As a physical therapist, I see post surgical lower back patients all the time. Outcomes can vary quite a bit. Some variables may include previous fitness level prior to surgery, age, and pain tolerance. A full recovery usually takes about nine to twelve months. Depending on the severity of the condition and how much work was done by the surgeon to correct the structural "damage".

Bottom line, lower back pain and surgery need not always go hand in hand. And requires serious consideration.


Tommy Hoffman, P.T.
http://www.bulgingdiscfixed.com

[Leeann]

Doctors should ALWAYS tell their patients too that pain is NOT a reason to undergo surgery. Surgery many times will NOT relieve the pain ~ quite often you're left with the same pain or worse. Surgery ONLY repairs mechanical problems ~ it doesn't "fix" pain as many people think. Doctors are remiss in telling their patients this ~ I was one of them.

[AussieSwede]

Doctors should ALWAYS tell their patients too that pain is NOT a reason to undergo surgery. Surgery many times will NOT relieve the pain ~ quite often you're left with the same pain or worse. Surgery ONLY repairs mechanical problems ~ it doesn't "fix" pain as many people think. Doctors are remiss in telling their patients this ~ I was one of them.

I agree with you Leeann... And I just want to add, surgeries only either fix some problems or will prevent the scenario going worst and not going to totally heal someone.