Back surgery not as good as thought...

In a study of 197 patients who had surgery for low back pain or sciatica, 40 percent of patients displayed little or no improvement a year after their respective surgeries, reported researchers in the June 15th issue of Spine.

According to that study, 40% of all back surgeries don't work. If that were a grade in school, back surgery would get a 'D-' or an 'F' in most schools. Unfortunately I was in that 40% category, which is a huge number for how invasive and damaging the surgery is, not to mention how expensive. Taking out the disc is not a good idea, in my opinion. I think we need that disc. At least I have found out that I do.

The doctor who did my surgery NEVER followed up with me. So it makes me think they don't ever get any feedback as to if it works or not. I sure wasn't going to go back and let him cut again. The body is a lot more complicated than what we realize.

So, what are the alternatives? People should seriously research the alternatives first. Massage has been proven to be helpful for low back pain. Both chiropractic and acupuncture have also shown positive results.

I personally have received tremendous benefit from craniosacral therapy for recovering from back surgery. In fact, had I known about it I would have done that first and foremost.

Robert Sigler, C.M.T.