Thinking Surgery? Think Again!
Why not Back Surgery?
Non-Surgical Treatment Simply Works Better
Advanced Spinal Rehabilitation specializes in the non-surgical treatment of low back injuries. Most specifically we treat disc herniation, disc bulges, degenerative disc disease and leg pain like sciatica that originates in the spine.
As a result we have prevented hundreds of patients from going under the knife and ended their suffering without risk.
In fact, we increase the health of the spine as opposed to cutting it open and weakening the area. In rare cases surgery is an appropriate treatment but that should be the exception as opposed to the rule.
To give you some idea of the epidemic that is low back surgery more than 500,000 patients undergo lumbar spine surgery each year. About 150 thousand of those surgeries are spinal fusions. Unfortunately, 50% of all surgical patients will fail to gain their desired outcome.
The Center for Low Back Pain states, “The first axiom for anyone in the healing arts is to ‘first do no harm’. Pain is NOT a reason to entertain surgery. . .”
Dr. Rosomoff M.D. was discussing “failed back surgery syndrome” of which there is a documented 50,000 cases, every year. While lecturing at the American Academy of Pain Mangement symposium, it was his opinion that surgery should only be performed in 1 in every 500 low back cases. He felt that that would eliminate 99% of all surgical cases.
In fact, 10% of patients will be WORSE after the initial surgery.
A Must Read for All Considering Back Surgery!
You should have the following facts at hand:
Surgery is appropriate only for a select few. It is the opinion of the Advanced Spinal Rehabilitation that all alternatives to surgery should be attempted first.
Please call to schedule time with a doctor and let’s find out if you are a candidate for our spinal decompression and rehabilitation program. Surgery should always be your last choice.
Weaken and Destabilize
As a result, the surgery can cause a new source of pain.
Low back structures are physically close to one another, and because surgery in the lower spine is in itself stressful to the area, it can weaken and destabilize the area. Structures that have not been removed can become damaged or stressed as a result of the surgery and themselves become a new source for pain.
Formation of Scar Tissue
Unfortunately this is unavoidable with surgery.
All surgery, including low back surgery, is associated with infection risks. The risks begin preoperatively with the injection of anesthetics or other preparatory drugs and continue straight through the surgical procedure itself. The risk of infection remains throughout the postoperative recovery period whether that recovery occurs in hospital or out. If infection sets in, the infection itself can cause independent medical problems as well as become an independent source of pain.
Possible Nerve Damage
If nerve damage occurs, it can result in continued pain.
Since disc removal surgery inevitably takes place right near the afflicted nerves, there is a distinct possibility that the nerves themselves will be damaged during the procedure. If that happens, the nerve damage itself results in continued pain.
Anesthesia Risks
Anesthesia is associated with a great number of medical risks.
Low back surgery always requires the use of anesthesia and anesthesia itself is associated with a great number of medical risks including death.
Risk of Infection
All surgery, including low back surgery, is associated with infection risks.
ALL SURGERY, including low back surgery, is associated with infection risks. The risks begin preoperatively with the injection of anesthetics or other preparatory drugs and continue straight through the surgical procedure itself. Also with the postoperative recovery period whether that recovery occurs in hospital or out.
Long Recovery Time
Recovery time can be from 6 weeks to 15 months!
Low back surgery requires significant recovery time. . . Time which many patients cannot afford to lose. Recovery time can be from 6 weeks for a laminectomy to 15 months for spinal fusion.
Not a Good Candidate
Some low back pain will not be relieved with surgery
Many low back pain sufferers are not good candidates for surgery, either because they have medical conditions that raise the normal risks to intolerable levels, or because their particular sources of low back pain are not susceptible to relief via surgery.
More Surgery Needed
The first surgery can result in the need for additional surgeries
Even if the surgery is successful in and of itself, problems actually develop – there is the high probability that within 2 to 5 years, another surgery will be needed to fix the level(s) above or below the ones from the first surgery. The sheer force of normal weight and gravity on the spine during the course of everyday life will result in the development of new problems and thus, new sources of pain.
Increased Wear & Tear
Surgery can destabilize and promote deconditioning.
Once you go down this road of surgery you will increase the chance that you will need further surgeries in the future. Increased wear and tear on the disc above or below the sight of the original disc injury will occur because of the weakening of the spinal structures. The surgery can tear into muscle and remove bone that destabilizes and promotes de-conditioning.
Don't take our word for it...Read what our patients have to say:
"Dr. Bowden was great help in adjusting my lower back after minor jumping gave me a pinch. After the first visit the pain was 60% gone. Two more visits took care of the rest. His staff were great; took care of PEHP insurance billing. Awesome!"
"I would highly recommend Dr. Bowden to anyone with back pain. When I took my husband to Dr. Bowden he was in so much pain he could barely walk. With the help of Dr. Bowden and his staff, my husband has healed and is back to his normal activities, without surgery."
"I have been a patient at Dr. Bowden's office for years. He is so wonderful to help me when I get in a painful situation. He is honest and trustworthy. Dr. Bowden is caring and has an unprecedented knowledge of the spine. Thank you Dr. Bowden."
"Spent two hours researching chiropractors, being a very cynical skeptic of them I found that Dr Bowden is the only one who is both very competent and will not push the hoogity poogity often associated with this field of medicine. No crystals or herbs or magic color healing, just proper health care."