For quite some time, I wasn't sure what I was going to do about my failing health. I knew that I had a few longterm health problems, but resolving the issues felt really difficult. Fortunately, a friend of mine mentioned going to the doctor, so I began looking for medical alternatives. I began working with one doctor who suggested a course of medications and a few lifestyle changes, and I was really enthusiastic about the progress I was making. I know that making health and medical changes helped the quality of my life, and I know it could help you too. Check out this blog for more information.
3 Essential Questions To Ask Your Spine Surgeon
Have you been dealing with a literal pain in your neck or back for months or even years now? Did you finally get approval to get the surgery that will correct the issue? Neck and back pain can be much more than an inconvenience. When you're suffering from pain, you'll find it difficult to live your life and to do what needs to be done. But as excited as you may be to finally have relief in sight, it's a good idea to ask your surgeon a few questions before finalizing all of the forms and paperwork necessary for the surgery. Some questions that you may want to ask include:
What kind of results are expected? Not every spine surgery is the same or will have the same results for everyone. Depending on the exact procedure, some people are going to be more likely to experience complete relief while others may get some relief but may still experience some pain. Before going in for surgery, it's important to have realistic expectations so that you aren't surprised or disappointed by the results that you get once the procedure has been completed.
How long will these results last? In many instances, you can expect the results to be permanent. However, there are some conditions where the results of each spine surgery may only last a few years before another surgical correction is needed. Although this may be disappointing to some people, being able to live without pain medication is likely to make surgery an appealing option for many people, including yourself. Even if the surgeon tells you that the results will likely be temporary, there's always a chance that you'll be one of the statistical anomalies who experiences more or less permanent relief.
What is the recovery process? After each spine surgery, there is a recovery period where the patient will have to refrain from doing any heavy lifting, bending over, and a number of other things. Before you go in for surgery, it's important to have some sort of support system in place. If you don't ask friends or family members for help and you don't hire anyone to help you, ignoring the surgeon's orders could make your pain worse than it was before the surgery. If you do injure yourself by ignoring the surgeon's orders, another surgery might not be of much help. This is why it's important to know, understand, and follow whatever directions your surgeon gives you no matter how silly or inane you think that they sound right now.
For more information about spinal surgery, talk to a professional like those at Neurosurgical Associates of San Antonio.