There will come a time when someone who is suffering from constant back pains will say, “Enough is enough”. Regular treatments do not seem to be helping with the issue, and the medication is only reliving the pain. The physiotherapy that they have undertaken may have helped a little, but the pain is still there, and it is starting to cause major disruptions to the person’s quality of life.
If this sounds like you, then unfortunately, it could be that the only option you have left to relive the chronic pain you have been suffering with is to undergo surgery to fix the problem. It is never an easy decision to make, but there comes a point where nothing has worked and it is the only thing left.
What to look for
Once you’ve accepted that you are going to need surgery on your back, the next step is to start looking for a doctor who will carry out the surgery.
There are many specialists all over the country offering their services, so it shouldn’t be too much trouble to find someone. One very popular clinic is Progressive Spine & Orthopaedics in New Jersey, and you find more about what they offer by visiting their website at www.progressivespine.com.
However, there are a number of things that you should check before deciding on a doctor to perform the procedure.
Their Experience
One of the most important things you need to pay attention to when choosing a doctor for back surgery is how much experience they have. Some doctors may have been performing surgical procedures for decades. For instance, Dr Timothy Steel has more than 18 years of experience as a consultant neurosurgeon, with much of that spent at the leading edge of spine surgery. Others, however, may be relatively new to the work. The main question you need to ask is if they have performed this type of surgery before.
There are lots of different back and spine conditions that require surgery, so you will want to make sure that the doctor you choose has carried out the procedure before. If the doctor has performed the surgery, then you should ask additional questions about the procedure, the recovery period and the potential risks or side effects from having the procedure performed. You can check spine surgeon in Gloucester for instance.
Their Qualifications
In addition to the experience that a doctor has, you should also ask about their qualifications. It’s no good having a doctor who is an expert in brain surgery performing surgery on a slipped disc. You will want a doctor who is qualified for spinal issues. You will also want to make sure that the doctor is board certified to carry out the surgery.
Some doctors will have additional qualifications and certificates for various aspects of the spinal condition you have, so the more qualified they are about your specific condition, the better.
Meeting the doctor
Of course, before deciding to go with a specific doctor one very important thing you should do is to meet the doctor in person. You don’t want to have a consultation only over the telephone or online. You should meet your doctor face to face to discuss all aspects of the surgery with them.
At the end of the day, you might have a list of several doctors who you are considering, so it is important that you are comfortable with the one that you select. Go with your gut feeling. If you get a good vibe from one doctor above all others, trust your feelings. Alternatively, if you feel uncomfortable with one of the doctors, then it is probably a good idea to move on.
Things to be wary of
In addition to seeking out the experience and qualifications of the surgeon, there are a number of things to be wary of. You will want to have a doctor who is honest and upfront about all aspects of the surgery. If the doctor isn’t forthcoming and answering any question you may have, then this is not a good sign. Equally, if you are made to feel embarrassed or awkward about asking too many questions, then this is a red flag.
The doctor should also be upfront about the cost of the surgery. You want to have an approximate figure of how much the whole procedure will cost, and what additional costs you may have. If they insist that you don’t need to worry about the cost, or are very vague about it, then they might not be the doctor for you.
Another thing to be wary of is if the doctor is against you having a second opinion about your condition. Everyone, in all professions, is prone to making mistakes or misreading data. Doctors are the same. While one doctor may be adamant that surgery is your only option, another doctor may sway towards other non-surgical treatments, leaving surgery as the final option. If you do not consider more than one doctors professional opinion, then there might be repercussions such as the surgery going wrong and you then having to file medical claims.
A doctor should not be trying to influence you into making a decision, especially for spine surgery. That decision must be left to the patient, and the doctor must only provide impartial advice about the pros and cons of surgery, as well as about the procedure in general and the expected recovery times.
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