Spinal surgery is no small matter — it’s a major operation, and deciding whether or not it’s the right treatment plan for your health issues is a very personal decision. While your doctor or surgeon might be recommending surgery, the final decision always comes from you, the patient. To feel totally confident about your decision, you need to be fully informed. This includes asking your surgeon and any other doctors as many questions as you need to fully understand the procedure and all the options available.
Why A Second Opinion Matters
Getting a second opinion is important, especially in spine surgery. The reason? There are often different procedures or different approaches to treat each type of condition. The surgeon you see initially might recommend traditional open back surgery, while the second surgeon (the second opinion) might recommend a minimally invasive approach. This is why it’s essential to understand all the options and the pro’s and con’s of each.
Getting a second opinion doesn’t mean that one doctor is right and the other is wrong. But there are many ways to handle pain, so be educated on all the options is the best way to advocate for yourself.
After getting a second opinion, go back and talk to your first surgeon about what you’ve learned and any questions that came up from the new information. Discuss the pros and cons of different options. Ask additional questions if new information is provided. And when you’re ready to make a decision, you can do it confidently.
Where the Difference of Opinion Comes From
Sometimes, a second opinion can alter the course of treatment. A patient might be told that surgery is not an option, leaving the patient to wonder if it’s possible to live without pain. A second opinion could reveal that surgery actually is possible. Similarly, a patient may be told that spinal surgery is needed, when really a more conservative approach might be possible to start.
The differences in the approach and recommendation of treatment might have to do with a surgeon’s specific training or experience. Plus, tools and technology for imaging or surgery can differ from one institution to the next, and many leading physicians make recommendations based on the tools they have at their disposal.
When it comes specifically to spinal issues, patients experience a wide range of problems and as a result, there can be significant variations in treatment options & the approaches taken.
Be Comfortable with Your Surgeon
Patients tend to consider getting a second opinion if they feel pushed toward a specific treatment right away, without leaving time to digest the diagnosis or do further research.
A doctor or surgeon who explains your diagnosis and treatment recommendations should support you in getting a second opinion before making a final decision. It’s important for patients to have all of the information needed to make a fully informed decision about whether or not they want to move forward with the plan, and your doctor should be available to answer any questions as they come up.
If a doctor is pushing you to make a quick decision, or doesn’t support your journey of doing research and asking questions, this might not be the doctor for your needs. Any treatment, surgical or non, is a big deal and should feel like the right choice for your lifestyle.