Patient Information and Resources – Page 6 – Bret G. Ball, MD, PhD, FAANS

THE BETTER WAY BACK PROGRAM

If you are considering back surgery, you might be interested in hearing stories from other people who have had back surgery. Or you may want to actually talk to someone who has had back surgery.

Approximately 500,000 back procedures are done in the United States each year. So there are lots of people who have experience with what it’s like. You may have questions like:

Does spine surgery really work?
What are the alternatives?
How painful is the recovery?
What side effects are there?
How do I deal with a complication?
How do I find out more about the back operation I am going to have?

Continue reading “THE BETTER WAY BACK PROGRAM”

GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF BACK PAIN

Back pain is extremely common. More than 90% of people will suffer from back problems at some point. For most patients, after a little rest and massage, the pain goes away and they are able to resume their normal lives.

However, sometimes the pain just won’t go away. If that’s the case for you, you might be referred for a surgical consultation.

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WHAT IS CHRONIC PAIN?

Show your pain who is the boss

Anyone who has been having pain for more than three months suffers from chronic pain. Chronic pain is different than pain that only lasts for a few hours or even a few days. New research suggests that chronic pain can actually cause changes in brain activity and brain chemistry, or even alter the anatomy of the cellular connections in the brain. Chronic pain seems to deplete the brains reserves, so that cells in the brain and spine deteriorate more quickly. This can lead to symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, depression, and difficulty concentrating. Sleep, in particular, becomes difficult.

Chronic pain can seem like an insurmountable obstacle. It is often accompanied by anger, frustration, depression, and anxiety. It affects your ability to work. It can affect your relationships with friends and family. Fortunately, we are coming to understand chronic pain in ways that were not even imaginable just a few years ago, and the good news is that there is a way out. The key is finding a structured plan that puts you back in control of your life. Continue reading “WHAT IS CHRONIC PAIN?”

THE RATIONALE FOR SPINE SURGERY

It’s true that spine surgery cannot fix every problem. Many patients are disappointed to hear that spine surgery may not be the answer to their problem.

However, there are also many patients who are excellent candidates for spine surgery. In fact, there are specific conditions that a spine operation has a very high likelihood of fixing. Of course, no one wants to have a surgery that they don’t have to have. But if you have significant pain that has not responded to non-surgical care, a surgical consultation may be the logical next step. A consultation does not mean that you will have surgery, but gives you the opportunity to explore your options. Continue reading “THE RATIONALE FOR SPINE SURGERY”