Undergoing any surgery is a cause of concern and nervousness for most individuals.
For instance, spinal surgery is the last cure that medical practitioners recommend in order to eliminate severe chronic back pain.
However, before having such surgery, it is important to learn about different aspects of the procedure.
Therefore, if you are scheduled for spine surgery, take a look at these questions that you must ask your surgeon beforehand.
1) The first question that you must ask your doctor is about the need for the surgery.
Enquire of your surgeon about the purpose of spinal surgery and try to find out its correlation to your spinal condition.
2) You must also question your surgeon about whether there is an alternative to the surgery.
If you still have not tried other forms of non-surgical treatment, enquire about them and ask your doctor if they will be beneficial for your condition.
Normally spinal surgery is recommended only when all types of conservative treatments have been tried with no results.
3) As there are different forms of spinal surgery, don't hesitate to ask your doctor on the type of surgery he recommends for you.
You must ask your doctor to describe the procedure in detail including length of incision, position of your spinal column that will be treated and whether the surgery will be performed anteriorly or posteriorly.
It is also good to enquire if there is a need for a bone draft or any instrumentation.
4) Next you need to ask your surgeon about the benefits of the operation.
Clearly ask your doctor if the end result is to improve the spinal function, reduce symptoms or entirely relieve the pain.
It is equally important to find out the time duration - i.
e.
when you will be able to enjoy the benefits and whether there will be a need for assisted surgery in the future.
5) In addition to the gains, you must also be aware of the risks involved in your spinal surgery.
Ask your surgeon to make you understand all the complications well before enduring the surgery.
Also learn about the possible side effects of the surgery that may include pain, swelling or soreness.
Finally talk to your doctor about the adverse effects in case you intend to avoid the surgery.
Your final decision will largely depend on this.
For instance, spinal surgery is the last cure that medical practitioners recommend in order to eliminate severe chronic back pain.
However, before having such surgery, it is important to learn about different aspects of the procedure.
Therefore, if you are scheduled for spine surgery, take a look at these questions that you must ask your surgeon beforehand.
1) The first question that you must ask your doctor is about the need for the surgery.
Enquire of your surgeon about the purpose of spinal surgery and try to find out its correlation to your spinal condition.
2) You must also question your surgeon about whether there is an alternative to the surgery.
If you still have not tried other forms of non-surgical treatment, enquire about them and ask your doctor if they will be beneficial for your condition.
Normally spinal surgery is recommended only when all types of conservative treatments have been tried with no results.
3) As there are different forms of spinal surgery, don't hesitate to ask your doctor on the type of surgery he recommends for you.
You must ask your doctor to describe the procedure in detail including length of incision, position of your spinal column that will be treated and whether the surgery will be performed anteriorly or posteriorly.
It is also good to enquire if there is a need for a bone draft or any instrumentation.
4) Next you need to ask your surgeon about the benefits of the operation.
Clearly ask your doctor if the end result is to improve the spinal function, reduce symptoms or entirely relieve the pain.
It is equally important to find out the time duration - i.
e.
when you will be able to enjoy the benefits and whether there will be a need for assisted surgery in the future.
5) In addition to the gains, you must also be aware of the risks involved in your spinal surgery.
Ask your surgeon to make you understand all the complications well before enduring the surgery.
Also learn about the possible side effects of the surgery that may include pain, swelling or soreness.
Finally talk to your doctor about the adverse effects in case you intend to avoid the surgery.
Your final decision will largely depend on this.