BACK SURGERY ALTERNATIVES(Keywords: back surgery alternatives, Chiropractic, lower back surgery, leg pain after surgery, avoid back surgery, back surgery costs) May I be totally honest? All of us in the back care business are trying to make a living, and there's little altuism in back care. We're all after your dollar! The Chiropractor can't wait to manipulate you, and perhaps not give you some exercises so it won't start again next week. The acupuncturist can't wait to get the needle into you. The surgeon wants you under his knife, and perhaps the most dangerous of all, the drug companies want to get you taking anti inflammatory drugs. And we all think we have the best solution, the best value for money. What does the research say?
CHIROPRACTIC RESEARCH ... Does that mean that I never refer patients for surgery. Absolutely not. After a reasonable try of chiropractic care, if the condition is progressing, a second opinion is always a must. I'm for good surgery, but I still think it should be the last option. Rather the back surgery alternatives. Why?
Searching for something specific? Say, "slipped disc". Just type it in here... Custom Search Progressive disc degeneration
When you bend forwards most of the flexion initially occurs in the hip joints and not in the back. Thereafter, progressively the lumbar spine joints (five of them) begin to bend. If flexion at the hips, or one of the lumbar joints is very limited, then the other joints have to take up the slack, placing increasing strain on those joints. Almost invariably when then there is a radical discectomy at one level, it's nearest neighbour crumbles too. Notice the air in the joint, the so-called vacuum phenomenon associated with a collapsed joint. Is there a back surgery alternative today?
This is the X-ray of a 63-year old woman. (It was taken lying down so you can't detect the short leg). Thirty years ago (she told me) she didn't have a back surgery alternative when she had a 'slipped disc' with pain radiating down her leg. The details obviously after all this time are a bit sketchy, but she recalls being stuck in an antalgic position for two months. She underwent a radical disectomy in the Netherlands (there were in any case very few chiropractors in NL at that time) at the level L5-S1. The surgery was reasonably successful, the pain in her leg was relieved with a few days, she could stand up straight, but the pain in her back, mild it's true never, went away. Sitting remained a problem ever since the operation. Progressively over the years the stiffness in her back increased (now we can see why, because the L4-L5 joint was disintegrating), and three years ago it started to become unbearable with pain radiating on and off down the side of her leg (L4-L5). Sitting for any length of time became intolerable. Interestingly she obtained relief by crossing her legs. Misery. Despite various medical and physiotherapy treatments she had little relief from the pain. Treatment by a physical therapist brought a measure of relief. She recalls falling down the stairs, hard on her sacrum, in her home a few years before the surgery. Would this history have been any different had she chose chiropractic thirty years ago? Of course we have no idea. But we believe in chiropractic that rehabilitation of that L5-S1 joint would have been a better option than radical surgery. We treat patients every week who are stuck in an antalgic (ever seen someone looking like the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
Research following patients over a twenty to thirty year period is now called for to compare the overall benefits of one form of treatment over another. Perhaps the chiropractic and back surgery alternatives are even better!
ON EXAMINATIONBACK SURGERY ALTERNATIVESA short left leg was immediately obvious (she wore a heel lift prescribed by a podiatrist which enabled her to walk without pain, otherwise ambling and standing were difficult). Ranges of motion were remarkably good, and tests for an injured or irritated nerve were negative.Motion revealed fixations in the left sacroiliac joint and at L4 and L5. Lateral bending provoked pain in the back, and some sacroiliac joint tests were positive. Conclusion: mechanical lower lumbar and sacroiliac joint pain. We'll see how she progresses. A vigorous exercise programme will be essential. Actually I love these chronic, non-nerve pain patients. They usually respond well to gentle chiropractic treatment, but there won't be any miracles. Patience and time will be required.
OTHER OPTIONSPerhaps you have had a bad experience with chiropractic, or are afraid of manipulation. Not everyone responds magically to what we do, and yes I admit to some patients who have increased pain, though it's usually of a temporary nature. Mostly those who don't respond well get neither better nor worse. They just don't respond no matter how hard we try. Backs are difficult! I probably don't need to tell you that if you are reading this page.So what then are the chiropractic and back surgery alternatives? I'm a great believer in exercises for the back. Find someone with experience in your area who will take you slowly and gently through a set of exercises, gradually becoming more difficult. Don't be in a hurry, just do them regularly every day, particularly first thing in the morning on your bed. Avoiding deep luxurious chairs, and the car. Less sitting alone often helps somewhat. Rather perch on something high with your legs dangling, or lie on your back with the hips and knees slightly flexed when watching TV. Have someone assess you for a length inequality, or short leg. A heel lift alone can work wonders sometimes. I recently had a social visit from a friend whom I treated some years ago. He has one of the worst back I have ever managed. Scheurermanns disease in the lumbar spine, with a short leg and scoliosis is a nightmare. He said the most beneficial thing I ever did for him was to place a 3mm lift in his shoe.
LEG LENGTH INEQUALITY ... Acupuncture has been shown to be successful with low back pain, more effective than antiinflammatory drugs. Just a good massage once a week would help. Instead of bending, when picking something off the floor, go down on one knee. Avoid going down on your haunches. One knee.
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