Spine Surgery – Myths and Facts

 

Although a non-surgical option is always seems a favorable to patients and why not? Going under the knife has its own set of complications that people fear of. However the field spine surgery has taken huge strides in the past few decades making it much safer and effective to the patients. There are conditions that need surgery for proper treatment and can lead to further damage  to the patient’s health or may even be life threatening if surgery is avoided. Here are some myths and facts related to spine surgery.

Myths:

Spine surgery is always invasive and involves a long recovery period.

Spine surgery is only recommended as a last resort.

All spine surgeries have a high risk of complications.

Facts:

Spine surgery can be minimally invasive, with smaller incisions and quicker recovery times, depending on the type of surgery and individual patient conditions.

Spine surgery is not always the last resort and can be recommended earlier if conservative treatments are not effective in relieving pain and restoring function.

The risk of complications depends on the type of surgery, patient conditions, and the experience of the surgeon. Most spinal surgeries have low risk of complications and result in significant improvement in pain and function.

Spine surgery can be highly effective in treating conditions such as herniated disks, spinal stenosis, spinal fractures, and degenerative conditions of the spine.

Physical therapy and rehabilitation are an important part of the recovery process after spine surgery to help improve strength, mobility, and function.

Dr. Aayush Shrestha
Orthopedic and Spine Surgeon
Grande International Hospital
Kathmandu, Nepal