Spine conditions

Are some spinal surgeries more successful than others?

Are some spinal surgeries more successful than others? The short answer is yes, but that doesn’t tell the entire story. Any spinal surgeon will tell you that every patient’s case is unique, and that post-operative recoveries and long-term outcomes also vary from patient to patient.  In addition, every operation is different, whether dealing with a traumatic spinal cord injury of a degenerative condition like spinal stenosis. For that reason alone some spinal surgeries are more successful than others. Some patients may work harder at their recovery, while others may benefit from an extremely skilled surgeon. Patients don’t always define success in the same terms, and thus rate clinically identical outcomes differently. But beyond these differences in individual cases is the undeniable fact that some surgeries carry more risk or have a lower rate of clinical success than other procedures, and that some are proven to provide superior outcomes than others for treating the same condition. Spinal decompression surgery, a relatively common procedure, is an excellent example of differences in the success rates of spinal surgeries.

Spinal decompression is performed to relieve pressure on a nerve within or emanating from the spinal column, the cause of common back problems such as sciatica. The spinal decompression procedure, which involves cutting away portions of a vertebra impinging on a nerve, can dramatically reduce pain and restore mobility in many cases. However, the procedure leaves the vertebral segment weakened and in need of stabilization. Traditionally, spinal fusion surgery was performed in conjunction with spinal decompression therapy to stabilize the spine at the segment where the decompression was performed. Today the TOPS™ (Total Posterior Solution) System is available as an alternative to spinal fusion back surgery. In clinical studies around the world, the TOPS Solution has been found to deliver superior clinical outcomes than spinal fusion surgery. And that’s a definition of success in just about every patient’s and doctor’s book.

Can Acupuncture Relieve Back Pain?

Not all advances in treating spinal disorders are necessarily new. Acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years, and researchers and medical experts have now established that this ancient healing art can relieve chronic back pain. One recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that acupuncture can be more effective than standard treatments such as medication or physical therapy for relieving back pain – even for conditions such as very mild incidents of spinal stenosis and slipped disc. In the study, patients were divided into four groups. In one group patients received customized acupuncture treatments. Another group received acupuncture treatments generally recommended by practitioners for chronic lower back pain. A third group received only a treatment that mimicked acupuncture, using a toothpick that never actually penetrated the skin. The fourth group simply continued the course of therapy they were already pursuing, without acupuncture.

Researchers found that all three of the acupuncture groups – even the simulated acupuncture group – reported more “meaningful” improvement in their ability to engage in everyday activities than did the group that continued their usual back pain therapy without acupuncture. Moreover, the study authors found that the superior improvements in pain reduction reported by the acupuncture group participants persisted after a year.

This study certainly doesn’t suggest everyone with spinal problems should stop their current treatment regimens in favor of acupuncture. After all, not all participants in the study benefited from acupuncture. But the study concluded that acupuncture is a reasonable option to be considered when selecting therapy for back pain. This is one more example of new thinking about treatments for chronic back pain, which has witnessed major advances in recent years. For example, spinal decompression surgery, which can dramatically reduce back pain by relieving pressure on pinched nerves emanating from the spinal column, was traditionally followed by spine fusion surgery, to stabilize the vertebral segments where the decompression procedure was performed. Today the TOPS™ (Total Posterior Solution) System can be implanted as an alternative to spinal fusion. Unlike spinal fusion, the TOPS solution allows the individual vertebrae to maintain their full range of independent motion.

If you have chronic back pain, make sure you know all the treatment options available – from acupuncture to spinal decompression surgery. And always work with qualified physicians specializing in spinal problems to find an appropriate treatment protocol.

What is Degenerative Joint Disease?

Osteoarthritis, commonly referred to as Degenerative joint disease, is a problem that often affects people in their advancing years and can cause pain and discomfort, as well as reduce a person’s mobility.

In this article, we will describe what causes the disease, the possible symptoms, and how it may be treated.

Degenerative Joint Disease Explained

After receiving a degenerative joint disease diagnosis, it’s common for patients to wonder what the condition entails. With this condition, degeneration usually results from the normal process of aging. This typically begins in middle age with the breakdown of cartilage, which is the rubbery tissue that serves as a cushion between bones and around joints. 

What Is Degenerative Joint Disease?

Degenerative joint disease is a condition involving wear and tear on the joints. It’s the most common joint disorder and may also be referred to as osteoarthritis. 

Osteoarthritis is frequently seen in the joints of the spinal column due to the many stresses and strains put on these joints. These stresses gradually wear down the cartilage that protects these joints, leading to increased friction with daily motions. This friction causes inflammation, pain, and stiffness.  

What Causes Degenerative Joint Disease?

Degeneration in the spine is characterized by a breakdown of the cushion-like spinal discs. This leads to bones rubbing against each other, resulting in pain, stiffness, swelling, reduced motion of the joint, and various other symptoms.

Occupations that involve physically demanding kneeling or squatting can also predispose one to degenerative joint disease. Injury or disease can further contribute to degenerative changes in the affected area later in life. Excessive weight, lack of exercise, smoking, and a poor diet can also exacerbate joint degeneration.

Degenerative Joint Changes

Degenerative joint changes can result from the natural aging process. 

Cartilage protects your joints from impact, facilitates joint flexibility, and improves bone longevity. But, as the body’s collagen levels drop with age, the cartilage becomes weaker and more brittle. With time, this cartilage continues degenerating, tipping the first domino in the chain of degenerative joint changes.  

As cartilage breaks down, the bones that make up a joint start to change. They become stiffer and less flexible. Additionally, the ligaments of a joint generally become shorter and more rigid, further contributing to joint stiffness. 

Increased friction within a joint can lead to the formation of bone spurs. This degenerative joint change occurs when extra bone tissue forms in a joint. This is your body’s attempt to repair the lost cartilage. 

Degenerative Joint Disease Symptoms

Degenerative joint disease symptoms develop as the cartilage in the joints gradually degrades. The symptoms can vary depending on the location of the degeneration and worsen over time.  

What Are the Symptoms of the Degenerative Joint Disease?

The common symptoms of degenerative joint disease are:

• Pain

Joints that are affected by osteoarthritis may become painful when a person is active, or immediately afterward. The pain may even occur with the simplest of movements, such as standing up or sitting down.

Additionally, the pain will occur around the degenerating joint. For example, if degenerative joint disease affects the joints of the spine, the patient will likely experience persistent pain in the back. 

• Tender to the touch

The affected joints may be tender to the touch. In advanced cases of degenerative joint disease, patients may experience tenderness even under the lightest of pressure on or around the problem area.

• Swelling

With degenerative joint disease, the soft tissue around the affected joint can become inflamed. This may lead to visible swelling. 

• Rigidness

The joints could become stiff, impacting a person’s flexibility and mobility. This will likely occur first thing in the morning or during a long period of sitting still. Patients with degenerative joint disease of the spine may find it difficult to fully straighten, twist, or bend their spines. 

• The joint is inflexible

You may notice a significant decline in the flexibility of the joint affected by degenerative joint disease. You may no longer be able to move it freely and enjoy a full range of motion. 

• Grating sensation and abnormal sounds

With degenerative joint disease, you may experience a sensation like grating or grinding while moving. This feeling is often combined with unexpected sounds such as cracking, or popping. These sounds aren’t a problem on their own, but indicate damage within the joint. 

• Bone spurs

Bone spurs occur when extra bone tissue forms around the affected joint. These portions of bone may feel like hard lumps underneath the skin. In some cases, bone spurs come into contact with nearby nerve roots, leading to pain and even neurological symptoms like numbness, weakness, and tingling. 

What Are My Options to Treat Degenerative Joint Disease?

Several treatment options are available for degenerative joint disease of the spine, including physical therapy, medications, and injections. 

Although the condition cannot be cured, steps can be taken to stop it from worsening and to reduce the symptoms.

Here is a summary of the treatment options available to degenerative joint disease sufferers:

• Regular exercise

It may seem counterintuitive, but exercise can help patients with degenerative joint disease overcome their symptoms. This is because regular exercise provides natural lubrication to the cartilage of the affected joint. With this lubrication, the arthritic joint becomes less stiff and painful. 

Additionally, exercising regularly promotes higher energy levels, improved sleep quality, and weight management. Given that osteoarthritis pain tends to worsen at night, improved sleep quality can help patients more effectively manage nighttime pain. Additionally, by helping patients reach a healthy weight, an exercise regimen can reduce the impact on the joints with daily activities. 

Of course, not all forms of exercise are beneficial for patients with osteoarthritis. Medical professionals generally recommend that patients opt for low-impact activities, such as walking, swimming, yoga, and biking. 

• Physical therapy

Physical therapy is a conservative treatment option that’s widely recommended for osteoarthritis patients. For this joint condition, physical therapy mainly involves aerobic and neuromuscular exercise. The goal of aerobic exercise is to improve the patient’s muscle strength and stamina, while neuromuscular exercise focuses on joint stability and function. 

Over time, physical therapy can improve joint pain, increase range of motion, and restore the joint’s function. 

• Medication and pain-killing injections

Pain medication and/or steroid injections may be recommended to help patients manage pain from degenerative joint disease. These medications may be available over the counter or with a prescription, depending on the patient’s needs. 

NSAIDs are widely considered to be the best oral medications for osteoarthritis. These drugs offer both anti-inflammatory and painkilling effects. Examples include Advil, Motrin, and Aleve, as well as Voltaren, which is a topical medication. 

In some cases, steroid injections are used to treat degenerative joint disease. With this treatment, the steroid medication is injected directly into the arthritic joint to curb inflammation and pain. Regrettably, steroid injections can lead to tissue damage if they’re used too often, so physicians generally limit patients to three or four shots per year. 

• A healthy diet to lose weight or prevent future weight gain

When it’s combined with regular exercise, a healthy diet can help you reach an ideal weight and prevent weight gain down the road. This is crucial for osteoarthritis patients because, as we’ve already mentioned, excess weight puts more pressure on the injured joint with every step you take. 

If you’re already making dietary changes to manage your weight with degenerative joint disease, it’s an excellent opportunity to incorporate anti-inflammatory foods into your diet. These foods can help fight inflammation within your body and include:

• Leafy greens, like spinach and kale
• Tomatoes
• Fruits, especially apples, berries, oranges, and cherries
• Nuts, such as walnuts and almonds
• Olive oil
• Fatty fish 

Conversely, it’s in your best interest to avoid foods that encourage inflammation in the body (also known as inflammatory foods), such as:

• Fried food
• Refined carbohydrates
• Processed meat
• Soda and sugary beverages
• Lard 

• Suitable footwear

Your choice of footwear can have a sizable impact on your joint health. So, for patients with degenerative joint disease, it’s particularly important to wear supportive footwear. The wrong choice of shoes could lead to worsened joint pain in the future. 

As general guidelines, look for shoes with significant cushioning and arch support to absorb shock while you walk. The sole should be flexible enough to move with your foot, but not so flexible that it moves out of place. Additionally, avoid high heels, which are arguably the worst shoe type for osteoarthritis.

• Using a brace, or other devices to reduce the strain on your joints

Some cases of degenerative joint disease benefit from a brace to stabilize and protect the affected joint. Patients with spinal osteoarthritis can consider wearing a back brace, which prevents excessive spinal flexion and compresses the spinal joints. This can help alleviate pain while reducing the risk of further injury. 

• Spinal decompression surgery

When symptoms of degenerative joint disease persist regardless of conservative treatment or severely compromise the patient’s mobility, physicians may recommend spinal decompression surgery.

Spinal Decompression Surgery

For patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis that isn’t improved with non-invasive approaches, spinal decompression surgery may provide relief. This procedure reduces the pressure on pinched nerves caused by diminished cushioning within the joint.

During spinal decompression surgery, the surgeon removes the tissue that’s impinging on the spinal nerves. This may involve a portion of the lamina or a bone spur. 

The spinal decompression procedure has historically been performed in tandem with spinal fusion surgery. This approach stabilizes the spine by fusing two vertebrae at the point where the decompression procedure was performed. 

Is There a Better Alternative to Spinal Fusion?

The TOPS™ System provides a clinically proven, superior alternative to spinal fusion by enabling patients to maintain the full range of motion of each vertebra. You may not be able to stop natural degenerative spinal changes, but a range of effective medical options are available to treat them. A qualified specialist can help you choose the one that’s right for you.

The key benefits of the TOPS System are:

• More controlled movement compared to spinal fusion
• A reduction in pain
• Restored ability to do regular activities
• Improved overall quality of life

Living With Degenerative Joint Disease

As a long-term condition, degenerative joint disease requires lifestyle changes to help you cope with its symptoms and lessen the impact it may have on the overall quality of your life. This is why it’s always important to speak to medical professionals who can offer support and ease the strain of osteoarthritis. 

Preventing Degenerative Joint Disease

Preventing degenerative joint disease is not entirely possible as it’s simply a result of aging, affecting millions of people across the globe. However, it is possible to minimize the risk of osteoarthritis by maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle with good habits.  

• Exercise

Regular exercise is a great way to limit the chances of developing osteoarthritis. But, workouts that put excessive strain on the joints, such as running and weight lifting, can have the opposite effect. Opt for low-impact exercises to prevent accelerated joint degeneration. 

Activities like swimming and cycling are great ways to keep in shape while controlling the strain placed on your joints. Two and a half hours of steady exercise each week, including some strength exercises, can build muscle strength and maintain healthy joints.

• Work on your posture

Try to correct your posture at all times and avoid bending in an unnatural position for too long. This will help keep your spine in a healthy position. Additionally, adjust the height of your chair while working in an office and try to walk around every so often to encourage blood circulation. 

• Eat healthily

Carrying extra weight is one of the main reasons why a person can suffer from joint-related issues, including osteoarthritis. Eating healthily and trying to lose weight can significantly reduce your chances of developing such issues. 

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If you’ve been diagnosed with degenerative joint disease, make sure to speak with your doctor about the latest available treatment options for pain relief. 

Causes of Back Pain in Adolescents vs. Adults

Though the majority of spinal problems appear between the ages of 35 and 55, wrought by natural processes associated with aging, you don’t have to be an adult to have back problems. Back pain can also affect adolescents and even children.

As many as half of all young people will experience back pain by age 20. It may appear as a sharp, shooting pain, or as a burning or aching. It may be felt anywhere in the back. These are the same symptoms adults experience, but the causes of adolescent back pain are usually different than those that afflict their elders.

Table of Contents

• Is Back Pain Normal for Adults?
• What Are the Red Flags for Back Pain?
• What Causes Back Pain in Adolescence?
• Is Back Pain Normal During Puberty?
• When Should I Be Worried About My Child’s Back Pain?
• Will My Child’s Back Pain Go Away On Its Own?
• How Do You Get Rid of Back Pain for Adults?
• Spinal Fusion For Back Pain in Adolescents and Adults

Continue reading to learn more about the differences between the causes of back pain in adolescents and adults. 

Is Back Pain Normal for Adults?

Back pain is normal for adults because it’s an extremely common medical condition. An estimated 80% of adults experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. 

But, why exactly has back pain become normal for adults? There is no singular answer to this question, but medical experts believe that the growing prevalence of back pain is due to factors including:

• A lack of physical fitness
• Occupational risk factors, including sitting in an uncomfortable office chair, sitting for hours without breaks during the work day, and performing jobs that require heavy lifting
• High stress levels
• Poor sleep quality
• Anxiety, depression, and other mental health factors
• Genetic factors, such as a family history of lumbar disc disease

What Are the Red Flags for Back Pain?

The red flags for back pain that indicate the potential for serious complications include:

• Fever
• Weakness, numbness, or pain in the leg muscles
• Lost sensation in the inner thighs and buttocks (saddle anesthesia)
• Weight loss that can’t be attributed to other factors
• Recent surgery, illness, or a history of cancer
• Incontinence 

If you experience back pain with any of the symptoms listed above, seek out urgent medical care. Possible causes of these symptoms, such as cauda equina syndrome, require immediate treatment to prevent permanent complications. 

What Causes Back Pain in Adolescence?

Back pain in adolescence is most often caused by sprains, strains, scoliosis, herniated disc, and spondylolysis (vertebral stress fracture).

Benign musculoskeletal diseases and trauma are responsible for most cases of back pain in adolescents, just as they are for adults. Any strenuous or straining activity – sports or play, carrying a heavy backpack, or falling – can sprain muscles in the back and cause pain. Such strains and trauma account for many of the younger patients seen in hospital emergency rooms suffering from back pain.

Less commonly, back pain in adolescence can be caused by spinal infections, kidney infections, or spinal tumors. 

Is Back Pain Normal During Puberty?

Back pain is normal during puberty, to a degree. Growth spurts during puberty can cause muscular imbalances as the muscles and ligaments struggle to keep up with the growing bone. 

Clinical research published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders focused on puberty-related back pain in young girls. This research identified a “highly significant trend” for worsened back pain with increasing levels of puberty until teens reach maturity. Lower back pain, in particular, was linked to puberty, while mid-back and neck pain didn’t seem to correlate with the pubertal stage. 

When Should I Be Worried About My Child’s Back Pain?

You should worry about your child’s back pain if it lasts for longer than several weeks, occurs constantly, keeps them awake at night, or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever or neurological symptoms. If your child is exhibiting back pain with these symptoms, seek out prompt medical care for a diagnosis and treatment. 

Will My Child’s Back Pain Go Away On Its Own?

Fortunately, most cases of adolescent back pain resolve on their own. The exact cause of back pain is never identified in at least half the adolescents seeking treatment. However, adolescents can exhibit severe spinal conditions capable of causing long-term problems. 

These include stress fracture of the spine, known as spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, which is forward slippage of one vertebra on another, and lumbar disc herniations. Infections, inflammatory diseases, and tumors can also cause back pain in children and adolescents, as can other congenital or acquired conditions. However, most cases of back pain in children are caused by muscle strains and generally resolve within a few weeks. 

If your child is experiencing significant, persistent back pain, don’t hesitate to seek out professional medical care. 

How Do You Get Rid of Back Pain for Adults?

To get rid of back pain for adults, start by improving your posture, focusing on your sleep quality, and managing inflammation with ice and heat therapy. Over-the-counter medications, like NSAIDs, can also help reduce back pain and swelling. 

When at-home methods fail to relieve back pain, it’s time to see a medical professional. Your doctor can work to pinpoint the cause of your pain and, if appropriate, refer you to a spinal specialist. 

Your physician and/or spinal specialist may recommend:

• Physical therapy

Physical therapy focuses on strengthening muscles that can lessen the impact on the spine. Physical therapists can also implement other treatments for back pain, including massage, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound.

• Lifestyle adjustments

Physical therapy is often the most effective for back pain when it’s paired with lifestyle adjustments. Your physician can recommend the changes that will be the most effective for your diagnosis, which may include:

• Quitting smoking
• Managing stress levels
• Reaching an optimal weight
• Avoiding high-impact activities, such as running and contact sports
• Engaging in regular, low-impact exercise to retain mobility and strength
• Eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet
• Altering your sleeping position to reduce strain on the spine
• Practicing proper posture
• Investing in a high-quality desk chair with lumbar support

• Prescription medications 

Certain prescription medications can help with back pain, including muscle relaxants, antidepressants, and prescription-strength NSAIDs.  

• Steroid injections

Steroid medication can be injected directly into the site of your back pain to suppress inflammation and provide fast pain relief. However, physicians advise that patients undergo no more than three to four steroid injections per year to avoid tissue damage. 

• Surgery

When non-surgical methods don’t improve back pain after several months, physicians may recommend surgery. This is typically used as a last resort when back pain starts to disrupt the patient’s normal activities. 

Spinal decompression surgery can alleviate back pain, neurological symptoms, and restricted mobility from conditions like spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and herniated disc. During this procedure, the surgeon removes the tissue that’s impinging on the spinal nerves, providing the space that it needs to heal and recover. 

Spinal Fusion For Back Pain in Adolescents and Adults

To eliminate the possibility of spinal instability after decompression surgery, many surgeons perform spinal fusion. It involves placing bone graft material between the affected vertebrae to spur bone fusion, eliminating all motion at the spinal segment. 

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The fusion process can lead to reduced mobility and adjacent segment degeneration in all patients, regardless of age. In fact, when spinal fusion is performed on younger patients, it’s more likely to lead to complications. This is simply because younger patients have more years to experience the effects of spinal degeneration.

Spinal Fusion Alternatives

Adolescents and adults can both benefit from the TOPS™ System as a spinal fusion alternative. A TOPS™ System implant can be used following decompression spine surgery, rather than the spinal fusion procedure that’s typically performed.

Whereas spine fusion surgery eliminates the independent movement of fused vertebrae, the TOPS™ System preserves each vertebra’s full range of flexion and rotational motion. That’s welcome news for spine decompression patients of all ages.

If you or your child is struggling to manage persistent back pain, schedule an appointment with a spine specialist in your area to learn more about your treatment options. 

Why are some spinal surgeons more successful than others?

It’s a fact that some spine surgeonshave higher success rates for the operations they perform than their colleagues. What accounts for these differences in surgical outcomes of spinal procedures? A number of factors influence surgical success rates and should be considered when interpreting what the rates say about a particular spinal surgeon’s abilities.

Spine surgery is a highly complex endeavor requiring years of training and experience to perfect. Surgeons with more experience tend to have more successful outcomes than less experienced surgeons. The success rates of board certified or board eligible spine surgeons are also typically higher than those of non-board certified or eligible surgeons. Another factor to consider: some surgeons specialize in specific areas of the spine – such as lumbar spinal surgery – and some specialize in treating particular conditions – such as slipped disc or spondylolisthesis – while other back surgeons do not specialize in any one type of treatment. Specialists have higher success rates than those of their colleagues who do not focus on the type of surgeries they perform.

Beyond the skill of the surgeon, success rates are also linked to the type of procedure chosen to treat a particular problem. The decision to utilize one procedure – perhaps because the surgeon is more familiar with it – rather than an alternative treatment, can also affect a surgeon’s success rate. For example, there is a choice in surgical stabilization procedures to employ following decompression spinal surgery, which is performed to treat conditions including spinal stenosis, spondylosis, and spinal cord injuries. In the past, spinal fusion back surgery has been virtually the only surgical stabilization option, but today an alternative procedure, the TOPS™ (Total Posterior Solution) System has been proven in clinical trials around the world to provide better success rates that spinal fusion. Thus, a back surgeon might have a better than average success rate performing spinal fusion procedures, but still not reach the success rates achieved with a new procedure. That’s why it’s important to be familiar with the full range of available treatment options when evaluating the success rates of any spine surgeon.

Choosing a Spinal Surgeon

Choosing a spinal surgeon is among the most important medical decisions a patient can make. A spinal surgeon does more than perform an operation. A spinal surgeon consults with you, explains options and answers questions, and plans your treatment and recovery. You need to trust your spine surgeon, and to feel free to discuss all medical matters frankly.

You should choose a spinal surgeon who is board certified or board eligible, and trained in a fellowship program. If possible, choose a surgeon who specializes in the area of the spine that requires treatment– for example, a lumbar spinal surgery specialist if your problem is in the lower back. Alternatively, choose a spine surgeon who specializes in treating the specific condition affecting you, such as spondylolisthesis or spinal cord injuries.

Recent years have witnessed tremendous advances in treatment of spinal conditions, such as minimally invasive procedures that provide better outcomes than traditional open back surgery. It is essential that you choose a back surgeon that has experience with advanced procedures, to ensure you have access to the very latest treatments and the greatest spectrum of surgical options. For example, surgery to treat spinal stenosis, slipped disc and a variety of other conditions that can result in pinched nerves, have often utilized spinal fusion back surgery as a means of stabilizing the spine, following spinal decompression therapy. Today the TOPS ™ (Total Posterior Solution) System provides a clinically proven superior alternative to spinal fusion surgery. Moreover, the TOPS implant preserves the full range of movement of the spine’s individual vertebrae, whereas spinal fusion eliminates the spine’s natural motion between fused vertebral segments. Examples like this illustrate why it’s important to work with a spine surgeon who can offer a complete range of surgical options. Thoroughly investigate all your treatment options as well as the qualifications of the specialists you consider working with, and you’ll be sure to make a wise choice when it comes to selecting a spinal surgeon.

Advantages of Medical Tourism

Can you really travel to a foreign destination for a vacation and receive high-quality medical care at the same time? That’s the question many people raise when the subject of medical tourism comes up.

Many people are skeptical of medical tourism, and understandably so. When you receive medical care in your home country, you’ll naturally feel more comfortable with the treatment process. However, there are many advantages that medical tourism can offer. 

For some patients, traveling to a different country for medical care is a worthwhile task. Keep reading to learn more. 

What is Medical Tourism?

Medical tourism is a term used to describe the action of traveling internationally for medical care. 

What Are The Benefits of Medical Tourism?

The following benefits are attributed to the popularity of medical tourism for USA patients:

• Affordable care

This is the key benefit of medical tourism. Many people can attain high-quality medical care at a fraction of the cost by traveling overseas. This particularly applies to patients in the U.S., which lacks a public healthcare system. 

• High-quality care

The quality of care should always be the primary consideration in medical tourism. There are first-rate medical facilities and health care professionals in many areas across the globe. Some of these areas, which are widely considered to be the best countries for medical tourism, include Germany, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Israel, India, Thailand, Singapore, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Cyprus.

• Advanced treatments

Different areas of the world have different medical regulatory bodies. Here in the United States, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) protects Americans’ health by regulating drugs, biological products, medical devices, food, cosmetics, and even certain electric products. 

In many instances, medical innovations have been developed, proven to be successful, and used for many years in other areas of the world. But, with the FDA’s regulatory processes, it can take a long time for those proven medical solutions to become available in the United States. This can also apply to residents of other countries who don’t have access to many of the advanced medical treatments in the United States. 

Medical tourism can give patients access to the latest medical technology and, as a result, a higher quality of care. 

Why is Medical Tourism Popular?

The United States has the most expensive healthcare in the world. So, while few people would consider medical tourism to the U.S., many Americans contemplate international travel to lower their medical expenses.

Medical Tourism Statistics

When considering traveling internationally for a procedure, it’s wise to consider medical tourism examples and statistics. 

• In 2017, over 1.4 million Americans sought out medical care from various medical tourism countries around the globe. 
• According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 12 to 14 million people travel abroad annually for medical care. 
• Many countries offer certain medical procedures at 30% to 65% of the cost of care in the U.S. 
• The worldwide medical tourism market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 32.51% between 2022 and 2030. 

Which Choice Factors Are The Most Important To Medical Tourism Consumers?

Consumers who are interested in medical tourism value a variety of factors. The most prominent of these factors include:

• Finances

Finances are arguably the most important factor to medical tourism consumers. In fact, in a study from the Medical Tourism Association, 85% of surveyed patients who traveled overseas to a hospital reported that the cost of medical care was a very important deciding factor.

The healthcare system in the United States leaves an estimated 9.6% of residents without health insurance, as of 2021. Even among individuals who do have health insurance coverage, high co-pays and deductibles can make it difficult to afford medical care. 

With these facts in mind, it’s unsurprising that cost is a crucial factor for medical tourism consumers. Above all, these consumers want to secure an affordable price for medical care by traveling overseas.

• Quality of care

Quality of care is paramount for many medical tourism consumers. By traveling to other countries, patients can attain a higher quality of care (at a lower cost) when compared to the medical treatment available in their home countries.

However, without the assurances that Americans are accustomed to under the FDA, consumers must consider the laws and regulations surrounding medical care in the country that they’re traveling to, as well as the foreign practice’s certifications. 

• Treatment availability

While discussing the benefits of medical tourism, we mentioned that it can grant patients access to advanced treatments that aren’t available in their home country. With this in mind, the treatments available in other countries are a key consideration for medical tourism consumers. 

• Waiting lists

Waiting lists for health care services are another consideration among medical tourism consumers. As of 2022, in the United States, 28% of patients sometimes, rarely, or never receive a response from their primary physician on the same day. This is a high percentage when compared to many other areas of the globe. However, 27% of patients in the U.S. wait one month or more for a specialist appointment, which is a lower percentage than in many other countries, including Norway and Canada.

With that said, long wait lists are primarily a concern for medical tourism consumers in nations with public healthcare systems.

What Are The Risks of Medical Tourism?

Although medical tourism can provide several benefits, it also presents certain risks and safety concerns, including:

• Infectious disease

Some countries have a risk of complications including HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, blood infections, wound infections, and infections from donor tissue or blood. 

• Communication difficulties

If patients travel to a facility using a language that they don’t speak fluently, doctor-patient communication can be difficult. Given that doctors provide crucial pre-op and post-op information, as well as procedure specifics, this may lead to confusion and errors. 

• Quality of care

Certain areas may not have comparable requirements for medical licensing and accreditation. This creates the risk of low quality of care. 

• Flying after a procedure

Doctors typically advise against air travel immediately after surgery. This is because flying raises the risk of developing a blood clot. Depending on the type of surgical procedure, patients should wait between seven and 10 days before flying. 

To avoid these risks, medical tourism consumers should ensure that:

• The medical facility has been accredited by the Joint Commission International
• The medical facility utilizes the World Health Organization Checklist
• The staff at the facility follows stringent sanitation, disinfection, and hygiene measures
• The provider is board-certified and internationally-recognized

What Is The Best Country For Medical Tourism If You Need a Spine Surgery?

As we’ve already mentioned, a significant benefit of medical tourism is that you can gain access to treatments that have not yet or have only recently been, approved for use in your country. Procedures that have been proven effective and are widely used in certain areas of the world can often benefit international patients.

The TOPS™ (Total Posterior Solution) procedure, performed in association with spinal decompression surgery, is an example of a procedure that has been used extensively in Europe but not yet in the United States. TOPS is an alternative to spinal fusion back surgery.

Spinal fusion is widely used with spinal decompression procedures for conditions like spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, bone spurs, and more. Unfortunately, fusion can severely limit patients’ range of motion in the back. Additionally, the complete recovery process for spinal fusion may last for six months to a year. 

The TOPS System preserves the full range of motion between the individual vertebral segments, unlike spinal fusion. It involves a minimally-invasive surgical procedure, which greatly shortens the spinal surgery recovery period. In fact, patients may start moving around the day after TOPS surgery with few, if any, restrictions. 

For certain patients with specific medical conditions, medical tourism could be the ticket to high-quality, low-cost healthcare. If you think you may benefit from medical tourism, make sure to conduct thorough research, find an accredited facility, and evaluate all of the risks before scheduling your appointment abroad. 

How soon can you return to athletics after spinal surgery?

Near the top of the list of questions from almost every spinal surgery, the patients indicate how long they will have to wait for the following surgery before resuming their everyday activities. When it includes athletics – golf and tennis, bowling and the like, pastimes that put tremendous strain on the back – the answer becomes more complex. The factors influencing the time before patients can get back in the game include their physical condition and health. Just because one engages in strenuous physical activity doesn’t mean they are in good physical condition or health. Recovery times are faster for surgery patients in good physical shape because their bodies heal more quickly. Of course, the operation itself will play a significant role in deciding when you’ll be back on the tennis courts, golf course, taking a job, or engaging in a simple walk. The postoperative physical therapy program also plays a significant role. But the type of back surgery is the primary factor affecting the time required to get back into sports activities.

How to recover from surgery if you are an athlete or cannot live without daily activity – read further in this article.

Table of Contents

• What does it mean to be in recovery?
• Exercises after surgery
• Conclusion

What does it mean to be in recovery?

While many people consider back surgery as the end of a promising sports career, Olympic, amateur, or professional athletes have returned to their competition after many common types of operations. General physical condition, professionalism during surgery, and spine rehabilitation affect how quickly you return to the game. Here are some tips for athletes planning to return to sport after a minimally invasive intervention. 

Follow your doctor’s recommendations

In most cases, surgeons consult about postoperative care. They depend not only on the patient’s health and medical history but also on the desire to return to sports. We previously discussed lower back surgery recovery: diet, exercise, physical therapy, massages, proper wound care, and medication support are vital aspects of recovery. Of course, you shouldn’t neglect motivation and grit to achieve success. And if your competition is right around the corner, and you’re still in the hospital ward, this is not a reason to be upset. Your orthopedic surgeon will take this into account when planning your postoperative period. Of course, everyone wants to leave and start an everyday life immediately. Still, following the recommendations, you’ll be able to return to sports faster than causing implicit harm to your body during self-rehabilitation. Returning too early cancels not only the healing but the operation’s effectiveness. 

So, a doctor’s advice may include:

• doing certain exercises
• wearing compression bandages, insoles, and stockings to avoid the risk of complications
• A diet that includes vitamin and mineral complexes
• A set of particular activities after back surgery.

Define your limits

You’d also talk to your coach about your career prospects or options (if you’re an amateur athlete) when getting approval from your PCP to return to athletics. It’s essential to be careful and aware of the limitations.

The postoperative stage depends on the patient, understanding the symptoms of complications, and a quick reaction if something goes wrong. E.g., accurately characterizing the level of pain and discomfort, reporting aches, numbness of the limbs, dizziness, suppuration in the wound area doesn’t mean a step back in the rehabilitation progress, but on the contrary, the ability to accelerate after a slight slowdown. Try to protect the spine, especially in the early stages of recovery. Respect your body and its healing times. 

Don’t forget about the course of drugs

Infections at the site of the surgical incision most often occur 2–4 weeks after the intervention. Most often, the following symptoms appear:

• redness and suppuration at the incision site;
• back pain that gets worse;
• fever and fever;
• change in consistency, odor, and color of drainage.

It’s essential to treat any of these and some other signs as they arise. If ignored, unavoidable consequences may occur. 

For patients with deep infection, a course of intravenous antibiotics is often given for about two months. Chronic contamination leads to the removal of the implant. 

Keep the wound clean: it must be washed with water and soap at least once a day. Remember to keep the wound dry for healing and crusting. It’s undesirable to utilize ointments, lotions, body creams on the operated areas. After two weeks, when the staples or stitches are removed, you may return to bathing or swimming. 

For opioid pain relievers, discontinuation usually occurs within the first few weeks, at most a month. There are other pain management options, such as using acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. But, as in the first case, they have their pros and cons and depend on the medical history. By combining medicines with physical therapy, you can achieve impressive results. 

It’s no secret that athletes’ dedication to the postoperative rehabilitation program greatly influences their subsequent success. Depending on overall progress in physical therapy, you may get consent to exercise, but return to activity must be gradual and gentle to avoid unnecessary risks.

Exercises after surgery

Patients, who have undergone minimally invasive TOPS™ procedures, can usually regain a full and painless range of motion. They have the greatest likelihood of returning to sport at pre-injury levels. Conversely, most exercises after spinal fusion aren’t available to athletes, and the possibility of injury increases – they’re less likely to return to athletics. Any collisions and falls will negatively affect health.

In any case, physiotherapy is a panacea for healing – movement combined with other aspects of rehabilitation can give you a chance for a better life. Let’s consider the leading practices that are useful for patients in the postoperative period.

Walking

It’s worth moving daily to improve blood circulation and speed up the healing of muscles and spine tissues. E.g., an essential therapy is walking, which can support the normal functioning of the heart and lungs. An upright position of the body is the best activity for the spine after surgery – this way, you can protect the discs from unnecessary stress. So, start with simple walks, and then work with your coach to develop your exercise program.

Bench press

That’s one of the simplest and effective therapies utilized in various types of operations. For instance, laminectomy recovery exercises are invaluable as they help protect discs and strengthen your back muscles.

This exercise is valuable because the discs hold the lower back during flexion and extension of the lumbar spine. So, to perform the training, you need to do the following steps:

1. Lie face down with your arms parallel to your body.
2. The back and hips should be relaxed. Gently lift your upper body while leaning on your stomach. Feel light pressure in your lumbar region.
3. Hold this position for about two seconds and slowly lower yourself to the floor. Do ten hikes.

Straight leg raise (SLR) 

To strengthen the muscles of the lower back, it’s worth doing the SLR exercise. To do this, while lying on your stomach, slowly and alternately lift each leg up. In doing so, try to tighten your abdominal muscles. Do an exercise with a delay of two seconds at the highest point of the limb position. As before, do ten reps per set. Such a physiotherapy approach is appropriate for laminectomy, fusion, microdiscectomy, decompression, and of course, implantation.

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In some cases, the surgical treatment chosen for a given spinal condition will affect not only the time needed to get back on the playing field but the degree to which you will ever be able to recover your old form. Take the stabilization procedure following spinal decompression surgery, for example. Spinal decompression is performed to relieve pressure on nerves within or emanating from the spine caused by conditions including spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and other degenerative changes or as a result of spinal cord trauma. Spinal fusion back surgery has been the primary stabilization procedure. But the fused vertebrae lose their independent motion following stabilization. Often, patients are restricted from physical activity for up to 6 months while waiting for the biological fusion process to complete. Today, the TOPS™ (Total Posterior Solution) System provides an alternative to spinal fusion. The TOPS™ System, a surgical implant, stabilizes the spine while preserving each vertebra’s independent motion – and the good news is that there are no restrictions on your physical activity after surgery. That’s going to ensure better performance whenever it’s time to get back in the game.

Conclusion

As you improve your range of motion in your spine, it’s time to start doing more challenging activities that will help you get back to working condition. To do this, discuss a possible change in activity with a PCP and trainer and adjust the training schedule. After implantation, you don’t have to worry that you can’t perform some exercises. The TOPS™ System is an alternative to spinal fusion and allows you to perform any range of movements required for warm-up, training, and cool-down.

Taking Vitamins Before Surgery

Spinal surgery is stressful on the body. Anyone who is having spine surgery needs to prepare his or her body for the surgery and recovery period by getting in shape, getting the proper amount of rest, and following other healthy habits. Taking vitamins are among the steps that physicians often recommend to help the body heal and recover from surgery as quickly as possible.

Back surgery patients should begin taking vitamins as far as a year in advance of surgery, if possible. A well-rounded multivitamin and mineral supplement with B12, vitamin E, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus are what your body needs to heal. Whole food vitamin and mineral supplements are often recommended because they are made from food rather than synthetic vitamins, and thus are easier for the body to utilize.

Vitamin C is another important vitamin to have on your pre- and post-surgery vitamin list. Vitamin C promotes healing and helps the body defend against illness, which can greatly interfere with surgical recovery. Vitamin A is another important healing vitamin. It protects cells and helps build new tissue, a vital part of surgical recovery.

Some types of vitamins, minerals and supplements should be avoided, as they can contribute to complications such as excessive bleeding. You should have a discussion with your spine surgeon about what vitamins you should and shouldn’t take as part of your early surgical planning.

Just as choosing the right vitamins can help speed recovery, so can choosing the right surgical procedure with the best outcomes. For example, spinal stenosis, slipped disc, spinal cord injury and a host of other spinal problems are often treated with spinal decompression surgery to relieve symptoms of nerve compression. In the past, spinal fusion back surgery was routinely performed in conjunction with spinal decompression to stabilize the spine, though fusion eliminates the natural, independent motion of the fused vertebrae. But today the TOPS™ (Total Posterior Solution) System, an advanced implant device, offers a surgical alternative that has been proven in clinical studies around the world to provide better outcomes than spinal fusion. So by all means take vitamins to speed your recuperation from surgery, but also make sure you are aware of your treatment options, and choose procedures that provide the best and quickest paths to complete recovery.

Should I stop taking medications before spinal surgery?

You have a pinched nerve, slipped disc, a spinal cord injury, or other back problem that has not responded to conservative treatments, and you have reached the decision to have spinal surgery. You and your back surgeon will discuss many aspects of your pre- and post-operative treatment, and the subject of the medications that you are currently taking – and whether you should continue their use – is high on the list of topics.

Usually patients are advised to continue use of prescription medications such as those for controlling blood pressure, even on the day of surgery – provided the medications are taken with just a small sip of water. However, use of blood thinners, aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and diabetic and herbal medications should be discontinued prior to surgery. Your surgeon and staff will ask for a complete list of all medications you are taking, and it’s important to provide accurate answers.

One of the goals of post-operative care is effective pain management, and that requires patients to be free and weaned from any narcotic pain medications and muscle relaxants before the back surgery is performed. Fortunately, the open back surgery procedures of just a few years ago have in many cases been replaced by less invasive surgical procedures performed to relieve common back problems such as spinal stenosis, or symptoms of sciatica. These minimally invasive procedures cause little damage to collateral tissue, and therefore produce less pain and require less palliative medication, further speeding recovery. Other recent advances provide improved post-operative outcomes. For example, patients can now choose the TOPS™ (Total Posterior Solution) System instead of spinal fusion back surgery after a spinal decompressionprocedure. The TOPS System provides better clinical outcomes than spinal fusion, and preserves the full range of the individual vertebrae. Spinal fusion eliminates the independent motion of fused vertebrae, and has been shown to promote deterioration of adjacent vertebrae.

The procedure selected to treat your back problem is also a critical part of the discussions you will have with your orthopedic surgeon. Be sure to discuss all your surgical options, including advanced, proven procedures that can provide the best outcomes for your spinal condition.