Back Surgery
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I was recently sent a link from the NPR (national public radio) website about a person in Maine who started looking at what was going on in their health care system. In the 1970s, it was shown that the hysterectomy rate in Maine was incredibly high. Eventually it was basically shown that more high-tech medical procedures like instrumentation back fusion for degenerative disc disease did not elicit better results. If this is so "why were so many of these procedures being done?" The researchers ended up feeling that the main answer was money. The more complicated a surgery, the more everyone was getting paid, including the surgeons.
Anyone who takes a neutral view and looks at our health care system, especially as it relates to how we deal with pain patients in the United States, can easily see that more is not necessarily better. If people don't take an active role in their pain care and rely on expensive drugs, arthroscopies, and complicated surgeries, without themselves getting healthy, there is good chance that besides a big bill with potential debt, they will also be left with pain. The questions to ask yourself before undergoing a complicated surgery is, Is this going to get my body stronger and healthier? and "Is there an alternative that is less expensive and less invasive? To both of these questions, I say the answer is yes.
People may be surprised, but I do, in fact, on rare, and let me say it, rare occasions, recommend surgery. There are clear indications for surgery. If a person doesn't meet these strict criteria, then surgery doesn't work. I, of course, see many, many and let me say it again, many surgical failures. This is why I reiterate that if you or someone you love has chronic pain and someone has recommended surgery, run, no make that sprint, to the Prolotherapy doctor! If Prolotherapy isn't going to work and you need surgery, wouldn't you feel more comfortable knowing that you went to a conservative doctor and received reassurance that surgery is the answer? Most often, however, the doctor would say, You are a great Prolotherapy candidate. Most likely with good nutrition, exercise, and Prolotherapy you will not need surgery! These words need to be spoken more often because "less is often better!"
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