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Sciatica Surgery
* Minimally Invasive Sciatic Surgery Sciatica Surgery Indications & ContraindicationsSurgery is rarely a good choice for treating sciatica pain. Sciatica is most often blamed on some spinal abnormality which is thought to be causing a pinched nerve in the lumbar spine. This is what is typically identified as the causation of the usual lower back and leg pain conditions experienced by the majority of sciatica patients. Scientific evidence has shown that spinal causations are actually rarely to blame for sciatica or any other chronic back pain syndrome. Most sciatica conditions are simply ischemia related radiculopathy concerns and should never be treated using surgery. Sometimes, a spinal source might exist for a time, especially after a back injury, but will generally heal within weeks or months. The remaining symptoms are generally perpetuated through the same ischemic process which affects patients with no obvious injury.Surgery is appropriate for some confirmed cases of spinal structural pain, such as cauda equina syndrome. These instances are rare, but can become a medical emergency for any affected patient in a very short time frame. Sciatica Surgery RecommendationMany patients undertake the surgical route because it is recommended by an orthopedic surgeon. GEE, who would think that a surgeon might recommend surgery? To me, this seems like obvious logic to consider, but it seems to elude the minds of many confused patients already overburdened by their chronic pain and suffering.Surgeons operate. It is what they do. They will often recommend surgery. Surgeons are business people. Surgeons want your business. Surgeons want to operate on YOU. Makes sense right? Yeah I though so… I generally recommend getting several opinions from various doctors, including at least one non-surgeon, before even thinking about undergoing an operation. Many less ethical doctors will use scare tactics to pressure patients onto the operating table. I know this for a fact, since it was done to me on more than one occasion during my 18 year battle with lower back pain and sciatica. One particular old cranky doctor actually told me there was a GOOD CHANCE I might become paralyzed if I did not have a fusion to stabilize my lower spine. Can you imagine? Anyone who denies the power of the nocebo effect should receive a prognosis like this one and see how they feel… Sciatica Surgery AdviceMy basic advice concerning surgery for any form of typical back pain is… DON’T DO IT. DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT DOING IT.Surgery is appropriate (although still a horrible choice, but sometimes the only choice…) for advanced scoliosis and other forms of spinal curvature, such as hyperkyphosis and hyperlordosis. For 99.5% of patients with the usual suspect diagnoses, such as herniated discs, foraminal stenosis, spinal stenosis and pinched nerves, surgery is virtually never truly indicated. Most patients affected with these conditions are damned no matter which path they choose… Surgery versus ongoing symptomatic treatment… Ok, here are my recommendations… Don’t like that route? Ok, consider non-surgical spinal decompression for disc concerns and facet joint syndrome. This noninvasive modality demonstrates excellent results and allows you to bypass the nightmare which is spinal surgery… Best of luck! Sciatica Forum The Sciatica Pain Newsletter. Sciatic Nerve Surgery to Sciatica Home 6/30/08 Revised 12/30/08
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