Should you get surgery for your back pain caused by a car accident? June 8, 2010
Americans are spending $86 billion a year for care and treatment for their aching backs. The bills are due to x-rays, MRI’s, nerve blocks and acupuncture just to name a few. Some doctors are of the opinion that the best treatment for back pain is time. Up to 90% of back pain will heal on its own within a few weeks. Some doctors say that an MRI is not necessary unless the pain persists for over a month. However, over 75% of patients are getting an MRI within that first month.
Back pain has a variety of etiologies ranging from trauma to osteoporosis. Mostly the cause has something to do with the discs located in-between the vertebrae. The discs can herniate and cause nerve impingement or pressure the spinal column. The spinal canal can actually painfully narrow over time, this is called spinal stenosis.
So, is surgery the right option? There are two major types of spinal surgeries: the decompression type (laminectomies and diskectomies that cut away part of a bone to relieve nerve pressure) and spinal fusions ( more dangerous procedures that bind vertabrae together. In 2007, there were 333,000 decompression surgeries and 381,000 diskectomies. Doctors say that less than 10% of people with back pain are candidates for surgery. Surgery too often fails for back pain. The better option is time and exercise but it has to be the right exercise program. Exercise programs should focus on strengthening muscles that support the spine.
The one point to remember after reading this post is that surgery should be the last option when nothing else has worked. But when considering surgery make sure to do your research and pick the right surgeon.
Posted Under: Personal Injury Attorney
