There are various myths and facts about spinal surgery, and many patients are so overpowered by the fear of spinal surgery that they prefer to live in pain. Advising spine surgery to our patients is like opening a Pandora’s Box, stated Dr. Shradha Maheshwari, consultant neurosurgeon, Dr. R N Cooper Hospital, Mumbai. People, in general, carry a lot of predetermined thoughts about spinal surgery. For some odd reason, most people are convinced that spine surgery is a failure and are averse to it. “The most common belief for patients for spinal surgery is dangerous as most often coming from elders in the family and backed by someone else’s bitter experience about spinal surgery. Most of the time these are one of those stories which is an exception rather than the norm,” Dr. Maheshwari stated. Technology today has reached a place where spine surgery can be performed with utmost safety. With a greater understanding of the anatomy and bio mechanics of the spine, spinal surgery today is a safe option for treatment.
Dr. Maheshwari added that a spine surgeon always recommends surgery as that is ingrained in people's heads so much so that it dissuades them from visiting a specialist, even if their physician has advised them to do so. It might come as a surprise to most of you that more than 80% of the patients who visit a spine specialist are put under guided conservative trial for a sufficient period before surgery is even considered. "Spinal surgery does come with a set of restrictions following the surgery and in long run. With minimally invasive spine surgery coming into the picture, the patient is made to walk on the same day of surgery and can go home practically the next day,” added Dr. Maheshwari.
A spine patient who has undergone surgery often tends to think that he is restricted in some way or the other and continues to brace his spine endlessly. Modifications after spine surgery are never major, and they can be easily incorporated in your day-to-day living. "Traditionally, spine surgery was cumbersome, technically challenging, and required long hours to complete the procedure. These techniques were associated with long painful recovery from spine surgeries. But gone are those days. These traditional open approaches now are much less painful and associated with fast recovery due to better technology, instrumentation and advanced understanding of bio mechanics of the spine. With the advent of minimally invasive spine surgery, smaller incisions, less scarring and less surgery time, the recovery of spine surgery patients is quicker and faster."