Back Surgery Lacking Advancement in the 21st Century

You know it's been about 4 months since my husband's spinal fusion surgery and the look of pain on his face invokes so much anger and hate within me. It's hard to believe that present day surgery could be so barbaric and dis-advanced. With people walking around with artificial hearts, insulin pumps and computers hooked to their brains that allow them to type online, it's hard to believe that a well educated neurosurgeon can only think to shove bone in the place that once harbored a cushion, pad like substance. The only thing these doctors can think of is to place metal and screws, common items found in the average persons garage in someone's back to "ease" their pain.

Don't be fooled by big words such as "spondylolisthesis" This simply means you have fractured, cracked or broken bone in your back. Seems like it took more time coming up with the name spondylolisthesis than it did to fix the ailment. Do you have Degenerative Disc Disease? This means that the little cushion between the bones in your back is dying. All of these long drawn out terms is to basically draw your attention away from the fact that they have no idea how to fix you. The best comparison that I can give for Back Surgery is a kid hitting a pinata, sometimes you get candy on the first swing, sometimes you get nothing. This meaning sometimes people take very well to back surgery and are nearly instantly cured, others are screwed, quite literally and it's possible the pain will become worse or stay the same.

Other than surgery what can you do? There are other options out there for you such as, physical therapy if you qualify. Spinal Decompression if you qualify and if you are lucky ,possible disc replacement surgery which was just recently approved. But the most likely approach you will find your attending physician pushing on you is lovely little pain pills. These beautiful little pain pills will shut you up and when your body becomes immune to them they will just increase your dosage or prescribe you stronger type. And this is usually the pattern that takes place until your popping five Demerol pills a day and sucking on a Demerol pop to even function.

I see so much potential in the world of back surgery. With the technology available to us no one should have to suffer through back pain and lame excuses.