Why back surgery may not be the answer for back pain

Written by Ashley Williams, PT, DPT, ATP/SMS, CASp | Apr 17, 2023 1:00:00 PM

Back pain is a common condition that affects many people at some point in their lives.

In some cases, surgery may be recommended as a treatment option to address the underlying cause of the pain. However, recent research suggests that many cases of back surgery may be overkill or unnecessary, and the success rate of these procedures is relatively low.

Let’s look at the research:

A study published in the Journal of Pain Physician in 2012 found that only about 50% of patients with chronic lower back pain who underwent lumbar fusion surgery reported significant improvement in pain and function at one-year follow-up.
A study published in The Spine in 2006 found that patients with herniated lumbar discs who underwent surgery had similar outcomes to those who received non-surgical treatment, such as physical therapy and medication, over a two-year follow-up period.
Another study conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration and published in 2016 found that lumbar spinal stenosis surgery showed low-quality evidence for surgery being more effective than non-surgical treatment in improving physical function and pain relief.

These statistics point out the importance of considering alternative options before deciding to undergo a costly surgery for back pain. Many back conditions, such as disc herniation or degenerative disc disease, can improve over time with non-surgical treatment such as physical therapy, pain management, and exercise.

Additionally, many patients with chronic back pain may have multiple contributing factors that are not fully addressed by surgery alone.

It's important to understand that every situation is different, and the decision to have surgery should be made after a thorough evaluation by a qualified medical professional, after considering all the possible treatment options, and considering the specific needs, goals, and expectations of each patient.

While surgery may be necessary in some cases, it's crucial to understand that there are often effective alternative treatment options to manage chronic pain. It's important to have a thorough physical and mental health evaluation to unearth potential trauma that could be contributing to the chronic pain, and an open dialogue with a qualified medical professional to discuss options and alternative solutions to surgery. It is crucial for the patients to have an accurate diagnosis and an individualized treatment plan that addresses all aspects of their condition to have the best outcome.

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