Neurological spine surgeon Dr. Robert S. Bray discusses why many people are being urged into spine surgeries they may not really need. Dr. Bray recommends people with neck or back pain who are considering spine surgery to think about several indicators: is there progressive neurological damage, has conservative therapy failed to stop the incapacitating pain, and does the injury cause persistent flare ups?
“I often see patients after other doctors have told them they need major, scary sounding spine surgeries…that they risk danger if they don’t do it right away. That’s exactly when they should seek a second opinion,” says Dr. Bray. “Patients should be given a clear reason for surgery vs. conservative care, and then they should be able to consult another specialist before making that decision.”
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discmdgroup DISC Sports & Spine Center (DISC) is a national leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, orthopedic surgery, and sports medicine care. Our spine surgeons set the standard in artificial disc replacement, spine fusion, discectomy, microdiscectomy and the full spectrum of spine procedures. The group’s orthopedic surgeons advance the state of joint preservation surgery and total joint replacement, including total knee replacement as well as total hip replacement. Our flagship surgery centers based in Newport Beach, Marina del Rey, and Carlsbad serve patients local to Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, as well as the rest of the country. Read more articles by discmdgroup.