Back Pain

38 Questions to Ask Your Surgeon Before Having Back Surgery

June 28, 2007
by: Stephanie

This subject comes up a lot in our forums - "I'm considering surgery, what questions should I ask my surgeon?" From articles on Spine-health.com and contributions from our discussion forum members, we've compiled a list that you can print up and take with you to your consultation. Good luck!

Questions before you decide to have the surgery

  1. What type of surgery are you recommending? Why?
  2. What is the source of the pain that is being addressed? How do you know this? (Exploratory back surgery is not done).
  3. Please explain the procedure - at a very high level/with some detail/in great detail. The amount of information depends on your personal preference – some want to know everything, some not so much! To actually see the surgery (animated – no gore) – view our Spine surgery animated videos.
  4. What are my non-surgical options?
  5. What is the natural course of my condition if it is not surgically addressed?
  6. What would you recommend if this were your friend/wife/sister/daughter etc…?
  7. How long will the surgery take?
  8. What are side effects, potential risks and complications?
  9. Please explain the risks and how they relate to me personally. For example, chances of having a non fusion if you are overweight, a smoker, risks if have a grade 3 spondy, etc.
  10. What if you get in there and see something different than you expected?
  11. Do I need to donate my own blood? If yes, why? For most types of back surgery, blood does not need to be donated ahead of time.
  12. Do you perform the whole procedure? Will any students/other surgeons be doing any parts of the operation? If yes, who are they and what are their qualifications? Some surgeons only do a small part of the operation, others do the whole thing. If another surgeon is required, e.g. a vascular surgeon, their role is important and it would be good to know their qualifications..
  13. Who else will assist you in the operation? What is their background and qualifications?
  14. What are the long-term consequences of the proposed procedure? E.g. will the operation ever need to be re-done? If it is a fusion, will it lead to degeneration at other levels of the spine?)

Questions about the surgeon

  1. How many times have you done this procedure? In general, when it comes to surgery "practice makes perfect", so more is better. (However, if the doctor is recommending something that is not often done, such as multi-level fusions, more would not necessarily be better.)
  2. Are you board eligible or board certified? You can usually look on the wall and see a certificate.
  3. Are you fellowship trained in spine surgery? This is more important if the surgery is a fusion, artificial disc replacement, or other more extensive procedure.
  4. If I want to get a second opinion, who would you recommend? (Someone not in the same practice)
  5. Statistically the success rate for this type of surgery is _%. What is your personal success rate, and how many of this type of surgery have you done?
  6. Can I talk to other patients who have had a similar procedure?

Any defensiveness on the part of the surgeon when you ask these types of questions may be a red flag. A surgeon with good results and appropriate qualifications will not be threatened by these types of questions and will respect your attention to these matters.

Questions about what to expect after the surgery

  1. What kind of pain should I expect after the surgery and for how long?
  2. How long is the hospital stay?
  3. May a family member spend the night with me in the hospital?
  4. How do you manage the pain in the hospital?
  5. Which pain medications will I be sent home with? What are possible side effects of these prescriptions? E.g. Constipation, drowsiness, etc.
  6. Will you know before the surgery if I will need a backbrace afterwards? If so, will I be fitted for one before the surgery?
  7. Who can I call if I have questions after the surgery? What is the process for communication?
  8. How often will I see you after my surgery?
  9. What symptoms would warrant a call to your office?
  10. What symptoms would warrant immediate medical attention?
  11. What limitations will I have after surgery and for how long?
  12. How long will I be out of work? School? Whatever...
  13. What kind of help will I need when I return home?
  14. When can I drive again?
  15. When can I resume normal (light) household chores?
  16. What expectations do you have for my recovery?
  17. When is it safe for my spouse and I to have sexual relations again?
  18. How soon after the surgery can I start physical therapy?

Good luck with your decision and your recovery!

Posted by: Stephanie

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Comments on this Post

Subject: Great

article !!!!!

PRIESTESS
June 30th, 2008

Subject: terrfic set of questions

Thanx so much for those set of questions very helpful and is exactly what i needed to and will ask surgeon like 14 will the fusions i have led DDD at other levels thats a very good question. and also scary for thats what is happening to my spine started at lumbar now T section alittle at C section but is the lumbar fusion the culprit that started it in motion

ceola
January 9th, 2009

Subject: about this topic

There are three main things are restricted for this surgery is
* relieves pressure on spinal nerves or the spinal cord.
* provides stability to an area of the spine that is painful, fractured or has too much movement.
* corrects spinal deformity in children, such as scoliosis.
and i get lot of new information about surgery and it is most useful for me.Nice blog

Tom

Drug Intervention

tom2000
March 7th, 2009

Subject: When Things Go Wrong

This is a fantastic list. However, there's one very important question that hasn't been fully addressed here.

In my experience, surgeons fall into two categories when things go wrong. There are those that take responsibility, are easy to contact and work their hardest to remedy the situation. Then there are those that suddenly become very difficult to contact, which is incredibly upsetting at a vulnerable time.

Therefore the question is: if things go wrong, how can I contact you, and will you work with me so that we can get the best outcome.

The surgeon should give you either a direct telephone number, or an email address and an assurance that the surgeon will actually answer your questions. This applies not only just after the surgery but at six weeks, six months etc.

Dr Jonathan Kuttner

'Knowledge empowers.’ LifeAfterPain.com

Dr Jonathan
April 25th, 2009

Subject: I feel back pain

Nationwide, prescription pills have become a societal force. Adults and children rely on them for a growing list of afflictions, including anxiety, depression, even shyness, for which few alternatives were available a generation ago. Nearly half of all Americans take at least one prescription drug. Meanwhile, direct-to-consumer drug marketing that touts new and expanded uses has become widespread. Adults and children alike are exposed to print, television and radio ads promising happier, more fulfilled lives. For young people, experts say, all these factors appear to have blurred the line between the benefits and dangers of the medications.
prescription pills have become a societal force

Chronic_pain
September 21st, 2009

Subject: DOES ANYONE KNOW ANDREW HECHT?

has anyone used him> he is co director spine surgery Mt Sinai,. 42, seems ok

Strat59
October 25th, 2009
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