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Are there alternatives to surgery for chronic pain?

Unnecessary Spine Surgery: Why does it happen in the USA and Worldwide? 

  • It is estimated that 80% of spine surgeries are not necessary.  Unnecessary spine surgery (USS) is often performed without clear indications that the surgical intervention was necessary.

  • Overreliance on MRI findings, wrong diagnoses, lack of knowledge of pain management options, market competition, and financial gain are major contributing factors.

  • USS poses risks to patients and increases healthcare costs, with an estimated annual cost of $4 billion in the USA, which has increased significantly in the last 20 years.

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Contributing Factors to USS 

  • MRI is not a reliable tool for identifying the source of pain in patients with back or neck pain.

  • Degenerative findings are common in asymptomatic patients, leading to unnecessary surgeries.

  • Lack of consensus in the management of low back pain and variability in spine practices contribute to USS.

  • The two most common answers surgeons provide for performing unnecessary surgery are: “we have always done it this way” and “financial gain, renown or both”.

 

The Solution for USS

  • Always get a second opinion before choosing surgery.

  • Meet with a physiatrist (pain doctor), like Dr. Bruce Witmer, to discuss an alternative treatment plan that does not include surgery.

  • Create a multidisciplinary care plan with your pain doctor that includes diet and exercise experts.

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You can read the complete article by Dr. Khaled Fares AlAli, Unnecessary spine surgery: can we solve this ongoing conundrum?

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