Cartersville-Georgia-Chiropractor
770 386 7707

Thinking of Back Surgery?

backpain bw

Maybe you are frustrated because you have tried various medical treatments, medications, shots and therapies and your still in pain ......your back problem just won't go away. You are begining to think of surgery. Lets put the brakes on, and take a look at the research and statistics surrounding back surgery so you can make an informed decision. Information is power and we want you to be an informed patient.

STATISTICS

60-80% of people, at some time during their life, will develop a back problem

At any given time in the United States, 15-20% of the people have back pain, that equals to approximately 54 million people right now!

Greater than 50% of individuals with no back pain show bulging or herniated disc's on MRI

Average age for back sugery is 41

Chiropractic costs 50% that of Medical care.

According to a Consumer Reports Health Rating Survey concerning BACK PAIN:

  • 46% said it interfered with their sleep
  • 31% said it limited their efforts to loose weight
  • 24% said it interfered with their sex life
  • 88% said it returned throughout the year
  • 50% said it severly limited their daily routine for a week or longer

The same survey revealed the percentage of people satisfied with both their treatment and physician type:

  • Chiropractor 59%
  • Physical Therapist 55%
  • Acupuncturist 53%
  • Physician-Specialist 44%
  • Physician-Family Doctor 34%

Between 1979 and 1990 lumbar spine surgery increased:

  • Overall by 33%
  • Lumbar Fusions by 60%
  • Cervical Fusions by 70%
  • Disc Surgeries - in Men by 40%, in Women by 21%

SPINE 1994;(10):1117-1124

DISABILITY:

There are approximately currently 5.2 million Americans "partially disabled" with a lower back problem

There are approximately currently 2.6 million Americans "permanently disabled" from a lower back problem

Lower back pain is the #1 cause of disability in persons under 45 years old

Lower back pain is the #3 cause of disability in persons under 45 years old

Disabled = physically impaired, crippled, injured or incapacitated.

Editors Note

With this high an incidence of disability related back problems, we should stop, think and consider if the present medical approach to back pain is appropriate or effective?

COST:

Approximatley 1,175,000 back surgeries are performed each year

Estimated cost for back related disorders in the United States is $50-$100 BILLION PER YEAR

It is the most expensive ailment treated between the ages of 20-50

Lumbar Fusions are "Big Business" (approximately $40,000 per surgery)

Between 1992 and 2003 spending for Lumbar Fusions increased more than 500%, going from $75 million to $482 million

Chiropractice care is 2.9% of the total cost for back care in the United States

EFFECTIVENESS: lumbarsurgery

"DISC SURGERY DOES NOT APPEAR TO RETURN PATIENTS TO WORK ANY FASTER OR PREVENT LONG TERM DISABILITY ANY MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN "NON-OPERATIVE TREATMENTS."

Back Letter 1994;9(7):73-79

A Washington State Workers Compensation study revealed that between 1996 and 2001 Lumbar Fusion Surgeries increased from 3.6% to 58% with the result of "INCREASED COMPLICATION RISKS AND NO IMPROVEMENT IN DISABILITY RATES OR RE-OPERATION RATES."

Two years after surgery:
  • 64% were disabled
  • 22% required another surgery
  • 12% had additional complications

SPINE 2006;31(23):2715-2713

466 patients with Sciatica from a herniated disc, were treated with conventional medical care. The success rate one year later only averaged between 49% and 58%.

European Spine Journal 2011;20(10):1669-1675

Out of 600 Workers Compensaton patients who had a single lower back surgery, 71% had not returned back to work one year later.

Out of 400 Workers Compensation patients who had multiple lower back surgeries, 95% had not returned back to work 4 years later

SURGICAL NEUROLOGY 2000;54(2):101-106

prescriptionmeds

9 out of 11 ruptured discs that leaked material into the spinal canal, ...... the disc material actually shrunk or dried up 50%-100% .....WITHOUT SURGERY

SPINE 15(7)

In patients who had loss of muscle strength (motor function) as the result of a herniated disc, the return of the muscle strength (motor function) was better when treated non-surgically than surgically

Spine 27(13)

In 50% of patients with sciatica coming from a herniated disc, the pain will go away spontaneously, with no treatment at all, within 4-6 weeks

Essentials of the Spine, NY; Raven Press, 1995:4-5

ONLY 5-10% OF SYMPTOMATIC LUMBAR DISC PATIENTS REQUIRE SURGERY

AMERICAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN 1993;April:1057-1058

lumbarsurgery2

FAILED BACK SURGERY SYNDROME: A percentage of individuals will develop chronic, on-going lower back and/or leg pain after spinal surgery. This is termed FBSS (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome). It is difficult to estimate the incidence of FBSS, however based on different studies it varies between:

10-40%

SURG NEUROL 1998 March;49(3):263-368

Are things getting Better? According to a 2009 article in The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine the answer is an overwhelming no. According to the article we have experienced a:

  • 620% increase in Epidural Sterod injections
  • 423% increase in opioid prescription pain relievers
  • 307% increase in Lumbar Spine MRI's
  • 231% increase in specialized low back injections
  • 220% increase in Spinal Fusion rates
With all this increase in the utilization of medical services for lower back pain,
you would think that we are seeing really good results .....RIGHT?

WRONG! ..........According to the article:

  • Patients reported functional limitations, work limitations and social limitations that were worse in 2005 then when the article was written in 1997
  • Disability from musculoskeletal disorders proved to be on the rise ......they were not falling! From 20.6% in 1996 to 25.4% in 2005

Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 2009; vol.22 no.1, 62-68

The United States has the highest rate of low back surgery of 12 Western nations. Chances of having lower back surgery are 35% greater than in Sweeden, England, Scottland, Canada and many other industrailized countries.

SPINE 1994;19:1117-1124

FUSIONS:

fusion

FUSION DOUBLES SECOND SURGERY RATE - A study involving 388 Workers' Compensation cases revealed that 2 years post-fusion:

  • 68% were work disabled
  • 23% required further spinal surgery
  • Fusions done with instrumentation (metal rods, screws and plates) doubled the risk of a second surgery

SPINE 1994;19(17)1897-1904

SpinalFusion

41% of patients receving a spinal fusion developed "Transitional Segment Alterations" which means the segment directly above the fusion couldn't hold up to the additional strain and developed instability, degenerative changes and disc problems. 20% of these required a second fusion surgery to extend the length of the fusion.

Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques Vol. 16 No. 4, 2003



CHIROPRACTIC: The Good News!

When patients were treated non-medically, using Chiropractors as the Primary Care Physicians, the number of procedures and the cost of health care was dramatically reduced.

  • 60.2% less Hospital Admissions
  • 59.0% less hospital days
  • 62.0% less outpatient surgeries and procedures
  • 85% less pharmaceutical costs

JMPT 2004 (June);27(5):336-347

CONCERNING SURGERY, THE ONLY CLEAR CUT INDICATOR FOR LOW BACK SURGERY IS "PROGRESSIVE LOSS OF MOTOR FUNCTION." WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT IN THE AREA OF THE INJURED DISC THERE IS A NERVE SO BADLY TRAPPED AND COMPRESSED THAT IT IS STARTING TO BECOME PERMANENTLY DAMAGED. IF THIS CANNOT BE STOPPED IN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME, (APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS OF CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT) THEN SURGERY TO RELIEVE THE TRAPPED NERVE IS INDICATED. SURGERY FOR ANY OTHER REASON, INCLUDING PAIN AND NUMBNESS, BECOMES RISKY AND SUBJECT TO THE POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS AND ADVERSE EFFECTS LISTED IN THE PREVIOUS RESEARCH ARTICLES.

If you or a loved one are experiencing a Lower Back or Neck problem that you think requires surgery, and would like a second opinion, contact our office to schedule a no charge, no obligation consultation with the doctor or email Dr. Garber a question concerning your case for a quick response.

We are here to help!

Garber Chiropractic Care Center
In Cartersville Ga.

(770)386-7707


Chiropractic Care and Pain Relief for Cartersville, Acworth, Taylorsville, Kingston, White, Emerson, and Euharlee Georgia

What is a Herniated Disc?

In order to understand what a herniated disc is, we must first understand the anatomy of the disc. The disc is a cartilage pad that sits between each two vertebrae in the spine and serves as a spacer and shock absorber. The disc has two components:

bigstock diagram 153301031

The diagram below is a spinal disc by itself. You can see the central gel like substance or Nucleus and the outer rings of cartilage or Annulus. The Annulus is made up of approximately 15 cartilage rings surrounding the nucleus, wrapped just like an "ace bandage" would be wrapped around a sprained joint. Injury to one or several of these cartilage rings allows the nucleus to begin to shift causing the disc to bulge or herniate. If all the rings are damaged and tear, the nucleus can then leak out which is known as a ruptured disc.

Normal Disc

bigstock Human spine in details Verteb 14219057

Herniated Disc

bigstock Prolapse of intervertebral dis 39561055 800

 

The diagram below represents successive stages of injury to the disc that allow the nucleus to bulge or even "leak out." Due to an injury from a work or auto related accident or bending and lifting improperly, the rings of the annulus can "tear" allowing the nucleus to begin to shift. As the nucleus shifts, the disc begins to bulge. If enough rings of the annulus tear the nucleus can actually "leak out." Whether the disc simply bulges or actually leaks out, contact with the delicate nerves occurs resulting in severe back pain and/or leg pain.

Starting at the top disc below, we have:

  1. normal disc
  2. small bulge (herniation)
  3. large bulge (herniation)
  4. small leak   (rupture)
  5. large leak   (rupture)

Ruptured-disc-diagram-final 800x

Disc injuries, like the ones above can be effectively treated with Cox Flexion Distraction, a form of traction done by the doctor which helps to reduce the pressure inside the disc thus reducing or eliminating the disc bulge. For detailed information on this procedure click on the "Spinal Decompression" link on this web site.

If you, or a loved one, are experiencing pain contact our office to schedule a free NO obligation consultation with the doctor or email Dr. Garber with a question concerning your case for a quick response. Garber Chiropractic Care Center 770-386-7707
Chiropractic Care and Pain Relief for Cartersville, Acworth, Taylorsville, White and Euharlee GA.

What is a Subluxation?

A Subluxation or Vertebral Subluxation occurs when a bone in your spine, known as a vertebra, moves out of its normal position and gets stuck there. Because it is stuck and can't re-align, it is also referred to as a "Fixation", or vertebrae "fixed" in place. Vertebral Subluxations have a negative impact on the local nerves that exit between the vertebrae causing malfunction of the nerve signals. This causes either:

  1. Too Much Nerve Impulse 
  2. Too Little Nerve Impulse 

With too much nerve impulse, normal functions of the body can get over-activated. An example of this is muscle spasm. Muscle spasm can occur when too many nerve impulses are being sent to a single muscle or group of muscles. 

With too little nerve impulse, normal functions of the body can become under activated. An example of this is muscle weakness. Muscle weakness can occur when not enough nerve impulses are being sent to a single muscle or group of muscles. 

So how does this affect you? In general terms your nervous system controls and coordinates all the functions of your body. From the wiggling of your toes, to the beating of your heart. With out normal nerve impulses to all parts of the body, the body cannot function at 100% of its God given potential. With subluxations in the spine we may experience painful conditions such as neck pain, back pain, headaches etc. or we may just not feel good. When the subluxations are minor we may have no symptoms at all, however it is just a matter of time until they are eventually triggered by some life event. Subluxations need to be corrected. 

 

The diagram below is an artist's rendering of a subluxation

 revised-final-subluxation01

It is a Chiropractors job, thru physical examination to find any subluxations that exist in your spine and then to correct or reduce them by giving them an "adjustment."

FOR A MORE DETAILED DEFINITION AND EXPLAINATION OF VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATION, CLICK THIS LINK.

If you, or a loved one, are experiencing pain contact our office to schedule a free NO obligation consultation with the doctor or email Dr. Garber with a question concerning your case for a quick response. Garber Chiropractic Care Center 770-386-7707
Chiropractic Care and Pain Relief for Cartersville, Acworth, Taylorsville, White and Euharlee GA.