What you should know before you decide to have back surgery (1:04)
Russell Portenoy, MD, a leading pain expert, explains criteria a patient should meet to have the best chance for success.
Click the thumbnails below to watch more real stories.
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I Survived
What back pain has taught me
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Physical Therapy Can Help
How PT tackles back pain
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Is Surgery a Good Choice?
What to ask your doctor
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I Didn't Want Surgery
It's hard to disagree with your doctor
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Back surgery is not always successful, so patients need to make an educated decision in order to optimize their chances of improvement. “I like to think about surgery if there are several criteria that are met,” says Russell Portenoy, MD, chairman of the Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. In this video, Dr. Portenoy explains the questions you should ask your doctors and the answers you need to get before you go under the knife.
I SurvivedWhat back pain has taught me
Physical Therapy Can HelpHow PT tackles back pain
Is Surgery a Good Choice?What to ask your doctor
I Didn't Want SurgeryIt's hard to disagree with your doctor
