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Back and neck pain
Spinal degenerative disease and related disorders
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What are the drawbacks of surgery?
Inevitably an operation involves a certain amount of inconvenience and discomfort for a patient. There are also risks associated with any surgical procedure. It is never possible to guarantee a successful outcome from surgery and no operation can ever be made totally safe. Most people are aware of this, even if they choose to put such thoughts from their mind at the time of their operation. It is nevertheless important that a person considers these matters carefully when deciding whether or not to submit to surgery. The risks of surgery should, however, be kept in perspective, bearing in mind that many human activities carry some risk, even crossing the road. Before making a decision the individual should understand fully the reasons for the operation being performed and the potential benefits as well as the attendant risks, and should discuss any concerns with their surgeon.
One ‘risk’ of surgery is that the pain may not diminish afterwards. Although the discomfort might not be any more intense than it was before surgery, the sense of disappointment may increase the overall level of distress.
Lumbar surgery
A common fear with lumbar surgery is that major paralysis or incontinence could be caused. Statistically, the likelihood of such complications developing is very small, but in a difficult case a patient may develop lesser problems, particularly if surgery has been performed previously. There may, for example, be a degree of weakness of one muscle group, or a patch of numbness may develop. Difficulty with passing urine occurs very occasionally. Once again, any anxieties about such complications need to be discussed with the surgeon before an operation is performed.
Cervical surgery
The risks accompanying operations on the cervical spine are potentially more serious. Indeed, there is the possibility of a total catastrophe in the form of permanent paralysis affecting the arms and legs. For this reason surgeons do not embark upon such operations without good reason. The risks are statistically small, but again must be fully discussed prior to the proposed surgery.
Lumbar surgery
A common fear with lumbar surgery is that major paralysis or incontinence could be caused. Statistically, the likelihood of such complications developing is very small, but in a difficult case a patient may develop lesser problems, particularly if surgery has been performed previously. There may, for example, be a degree of weakness of one muscle group, or a patch of numbness may develop. Difficulty with passing urine occurs very occasionally. Once again, any anxieties about such complications need to be discussed with the surgeon before an operation is performed.
Cervical surgery
The risks accompanying operations on the cervical spine are potentially more serious. Indeed, there is the possibility of a total catastrophe in the form of permanent paralysis affecting the arms and legs. For this reason surgeons do not embark upon such operations without good reason. The risks are statistically small, but again must be fully discussed prior to the proposed surgery.
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Contents
- Introduction
- What causes spinal pain?
- Why do I experience different types of pain?
- What other symptoms can develop?
- How common are spinal problems?
- Could it be something serious?
- What will happen if the pain is not treated?
- What do the various words used by doctors mean?
- What tests can be performed?
- How is spinal pain treated?
- When is an operation necessary?
- What do you recommend, doctor?
- Who should perform my operation?
- What are the drawbacks of surgery?
- What is the recovery period?
- What if surgery fails?
- What advances are likely in the future?
- Conclusions
- Other organisations that may be able to help
- Your feedback on Back and neck pain
