Is Back Surgery Worth It?

There is no hard and fast answer to whether you really need back surgery, although people who do elect for back surgery say their pain interferes with their mobility, sex life, and/or sleep that is taking away their life.  Your doctor may suggest that you see a surgeon if your back pain is unrelenting and treatments such as physical therapy, weight control, steroid injections, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications don't work. 

Although it may seem counterintuitive, patients are more likely to heal on their own without surgery if they try to remain active rather than simply opting for bed rest.  Obviously, there are certain things you can't do when you are in a lot of pain, but the idea as proven consistently in studies is to try to stay as active as you can to get better on your own.

Electing for surgery to get better entirely depends on you, so make use of your resources to make a decision that's right for you.  Use our resources to see how minimally invasive spine surgery compares to open surgery.  See the success rates from studies of the different surgical treatments available such as discectomy, laminotomy, foraminotomy, artificial disk replacement, and spinal fusions.  Before undergoing any surgical treatment, you can consult our patient checklist to help guide you when seeking treatment from a surgeon.