Having a healthy back is something that most of us in Kentucky take for granted. The occasional muscle pull makes one realize just how much we depend on our backs and take painlessness for granted.
If you have chronic back pain due to a ruptured disc, degenerative disc disease, or scoliosis, you live with pain every day. Maybe you get some relief from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but chances are you are offered the option of surgery.
The Spine Center offers “Five Ways to Minimize Failed Back Surgery and Continued Back Pain.” Here is what they recommend.
- Know, Trust, and Understand Your Diagnosis. The same type of back pain could stem from a variety of problems. Ask your doctor any questions or doubts you have about your diagnosis. If he or she cannot answer them to your satisfaction, get a second opinion—and even a third. Undergoing the wrong procedure may not only fail to take care of your back pain, it could make matters worse.
- Make Sure That You Have Confidence in Your Surgeon. Have your doctor refer you to a good surgeon. Ask questions about the surgical procedure, what experience he or she has with the procedure, and what to expect during and after surgery. If you don’t feel comfortable with the surgeon’s responses or even with his or her demeanor, seek a second opinion. A knowledgeable, trustworthy surgeon wants to alleviate your fears and will be comfortable answering any questions you have.
- Know the Statistics of Your Surgical Procedure. Although a high success rate doesn’t guarantee that the surgery will work for you, if this type of surgery has been highly successful for other people with your type of back problem, you will feel more confident having the procedure yourself. If the procedure is fairly new or is experimental, you should consider the risks more carefully.
- Commit to Rehabilitation. After surgery, there is always some kind of rehabilitation necessary. Know your surgeon’s plan for you, and think about how dedicated you are to rehabilitation. If you do not follow the proper post-operative protocol, the procedure may fail.
- Prepare Yourself. Try to avoid stress before having surgery. Get yourself mentally prepared. Make sure that you have plenty of time for recovery and rehabilitation.
You may have already had spinal surgery and are questioning your decision because you are worse off than before. If you had the Medtronic Infuse device implanted during a spinal fusion and are experiencing problems, contact the Louisville Medtronic Infuse injury attorneys at Gray and White Law. Call us toll free at 888-450-4456 or locally at 502-210-8942, or fill out our online contact form to set up a FREE, no-obligation consultation.