Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 5/28/2008

Question
i had two discs in my back that were herinated and they shaved them down. Now i have servere pain down my right side it goes through my hip to the tips of my toes and i was wondering what i should do? Will the pain always be there or will it ever go away?

Answer
Hello Prudence,

After surgery, chronic leg pain

Will the pain always be there or will it go away?

Prudence, these are questions you certainly should ask of the medical doctors, the surgeons, who performed your surgery.  They should know.  They performed surgery, they permanently made changes, they altered the biomechanics of the spine, they should certainly know the results of their invasive procedures.

According to the book: "When to say no to surgery", by Schneider (1982), Back Surgery should almost never be performed.  According to the author, once you have one back surgery, you usually have a second or a third back surgery.  Many studies follow the results of back surgery for up to two years.  Perhaps studies should be performed in follow-up for 5, 10, even 15 and 20 years,,, what are the results of that invasive procedure?

I am sure that before proceeding to invasive back surgery you did have an evaluation by your local family Doctor of Chiropractic.  Chiropractors work on the spine, and affect the body through the spine and nervous system all day every day.  Often the Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) is referred to as the conservative "spine specialist".  After weeks or even months of safe, conservative, effective chiropractic treatment, usually back pain (and leg pain due to back dysfunction) is resolved.  After a course of conservative care, sometimes back surgery is still needed.  Most neurosurgeons that I have dealt with call back surgery the treatment approach of last resort.  Many neurosurgeons do not recommend back or neck surgery until all other approaches have been tried and failed. Often it is said that back surgery should be reserved for people with loss of bowel and bladder control.

Unfortunately neurosurgeons think Chiropractic does not work- because they see the few people that Chiropractic has failed on.

Unfortunately the Doctor of Chiropractic also only sees the failed back surgeries.  

"Failed Back Surgery" is actually a known entity in health care.  This Staten Island Chiropractor has seen his share of  failed back surgeries through the years.  So both professions, when you speak of the other approach, are usually negative- given our experiences.  I admit my pro-chiropractic bias due to the failed surgeries I have seen.  One major difference between the Chiropractic approach versus the surgical approach:  Chiropractic works slowly with the body and does not permanently alter the underlying structure and does not limit future treatment approaches; surgery permanently alters the underlying structure and limits future treatment approaches.

You are in pain.  Certainly you should communicate with your surgeon.

You are in pain.  Your pain in the leg may originate in the back.  Certainly you should communicate with/ be evaluated by your local family Doctor of Chiropractic.

This Staten Island Chiropractor does treat people who have had prior back surgery.  Depending upon the techniques utilized, my treatment may be different from what I would prefer due to the surgery.  But, just as medicine or dentistry allow different approaches; it is similar in Chiropractic- - while one approach may not be indicated, another approach can be utilized.  See a DC and have your condition evaluated.  You may be able to conservatively treat your leg pain through your spine via safe, effective, natural, non-invasive chiropractic care.

Along with chiropractic treatment, I would recommend a nutritional approach that is anti-inflammatory, will calm the irritated nerves, and build a better joint.  Essential Fatty Acids (omega 3s), B complex, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Vitamin C, SAMe, MSM could all be helpful.  Your DC will help you with supplement recommendations.

I hope this was helpful to you.  See your local DC, take the right supplements, communicate with the surgeon.  I wish you luck in your recovery.

As always, this article is for discussion purposes only.   Information and educational, provoking thought on the topic covered. Specific evaluation, DX, TX, RX, PX can only be given by a treating health professional in person.

I wish you good luck and Good Health Naturally!

Victor Dolan, DC
http://www.GoodHealthNaturally.info  
http://www.DocDolan.net
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com   (email newsletter)