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When Surgery Is An Option

Back surgery has changed dramatically. In the past, it was often viewed as the last hope—the final option for people with back and back-related leg pain who were not helped by anything else (see Taking Charge of Your Symptoms and Recovery).

Today, surgery on the spine is seen as the correct and timely approach for a relatively small number of patients with specific diagnoses of leg or back pain. The proper timing of such operations is almost as important as the surgery itself. In most cases, back surgery should be considered only after other treatments have been tried without success and when the person is physically and mentally ready—not just for the operation, but also for the recovery period.

There are times, however, when the surgery is required right away and even when it can be put off for a while, delaying necessary surgery for too long also causes problems. For one thing, the person may develop a pattern of complex pain with feelings of hopelessness and disability. This can greatly interfere with recovery once the surgery finally takes place.

Key Facts About Back Surgery

29 Oct 2013
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Undergoing back surgery is a big decision. If you are considering this treatment, chances are you have lots of questions. Back surgery techniques have changed significantly over the years so it is important to get the most recent information and to be able to separate what is...
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Three Common Problems That Could Lead To Back Surgery

29 Oct 2013
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Back surgery is done for a variety of reasons, to correct deformity, reduce and fix a fracture or remove a tumour for example but surgery to eliminate leg and back pain is often done for one of three common conditions. It generally follows a period of non-operative care that has...
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Three Common Back Surgery Procedures

29 Oct 2013
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Each of the three common problems has a typical surgical solution. All of the problems may respond to time and non-operative care so surgery generally follows a course of unsuccessful therapy. If the situation requires it, more than one procedure may be done at the same...
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Returning To Normal After Back Surgery

29 Oct 2013
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Keeping track of your recovery If your surgery was more extensive and you face a longer course of rehabilitation, you may want to track your recovery. You can keep a diary of your progress and note how you are feeling each day. Record what you are able to do and share this...
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How Family and Friends Can Help Before and After Back Surgery

29 Oct 2013
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The help and support of family members and friends is very important to someone undergoing back surgery. Their involvement at every stage will make things much easier and can lead to a faster, more complete recovery. Many patients and their families are surprised at how...
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When Back Surgery Fails

29 Oct 2013
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Most patients experience improvement in their symptoms after surgery so don’t be too hasty in deciding that your operation has failed; sometimes recovery takes a bit longer than you expect. If it turns out that the surgery hasn’t corrected the original problem, or if surgical...
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About BackCareCanada.ca

Back Care Canada was developed by health professionals to provide reliable information and advice based on the latest research and expert opinion.

The goal is to help you better manage your symptoms and you make more informed decisions about seeking treatment.

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