Have you been told you need surgery for your pain? Personally, that's a terrifying thought. I know many of you agree but are still considering it because you've been dealing with the pain for so long and it's limiting you from doing the things you love. I'm here to tell you that surgery is most likely not the answer you're looking for.
This topic becomes even more difficult because you were told by a doctor that surgery is your best option. Why would you disagree with him?! He's a doctor for crying out loud!
That may be true, but it is important to keep in mind that the surgeon's only tool is surgery. It's what they get paid to do and when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. This is why it's so important to me that you get a second opinion before booking your date with the Doc.
One of the major reasons I don't agree with surgery is that many times it doesn't solve the root cause of the issue at hand. The patient gets convinced that all they need to to have the painful body part "replaced" or "repaired" and everything will be good as new. Unfortunately, this is not that case. A great analogy for this is dealing with a car.
Bare with me all you non-care enthusiasts (this will benefit you too). Everyone has experienced a time in their lives when their car starts yelling at them. The dashboard lights up with colors you didn't even know it had and won't stop making noises until you take it into the mechanic. The mechanic tells you they need to replace "blah blah and blah" (not a car enthusiast if you couldn't tell).
They replace a bunch of parts but within the hour of pulling it off the lot, it starts yelling at you again. Infuriating! The reason it's still yelling at you is because many newer cars have a computer system inside that is used to help detect issues and they never reset it. The car has brand new parts now, so there is no real issue, but the computer system is still picking up that there is a problem. This is the same thing that happens with the human body. Many times, the parts are working just fine and don't need to be replaced! Instead of changing out the parts, we need to reset the alarm system to get you out of pain and back to what you love.
Unfortunately there are certain situations where surgery is warranted but why wouldn't you exhaust all options before heading under the knife. If you have any questions or concerns we are here for you and can guide you through all your options in more detail. Our main goal, surgery or not, is to help you return to the life that you want and deserve!