3 Myths About Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Category: Minimally Invasive Surgery | Author: Stefano Sinicropi

spine diagramMinimally invasive surgical procedures are a relatively new arrival in the world of surgery. We’ve already discussed the differences between minimally invasive techniques and traditional spinal surgeries, but there is a lot of misinformation about these procedures. In this article we’ll bust three of the most prevalent myths about minimally invasive spine surgery.

Myth 1: Spine Surgery should be a Last Resort

Generally people want to avoid surgery for as long as possible, trying a number of conservative treatments first. This can be a good thing – some conditions respond well to non-surgical treatments. However, other conditions are not best treated with non-surgical options. In these circumstances, you can avoid a lot of pain and frustration by fixing the issue and resolving your pain for the long term with spine surgery.

Myth 2: Spine Surgery Requires a Long Hospital Stay

This is true with certain forms of traditional open back surgical procedures, but minimally invasive surgeries only require brief hospital stays. With most procedures, you will be in and out in a single day – that means no hospital overnights.

Myth 3: I can’t Afford Spine Surgery

Do not immediately assume that spine surgery is out of your price range. Depending on your insurance coverage, it may fall within your budget. Additionally, spine surgeries are generally long-lasting solutions to existing spinal conditions – as opposed to non-surgical treatments (injections, physical therapy) which usually only provide short-term relief. Over time, the money you spend on a procedure to relieve your back pain will likely be less than the combined amount spent on going to get a steroid shot every few months. And you can’t put a price on the pain relief that minimally invasive procedures provide.

If you have any more questions, need any more myths busted, or are considering whether minimally invasive spines surgery is the best option for you, talk to you physician.

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