You will have many questions for your medical team, as you consider spine treatments. It’s helpful to put together a general list about your spinal condition and treatment options. At this point, you should also consider getting a second opinion at another facility specializing in the treatment of your condition. Seek out facilities that offer a ‘Spine Center of Excellence’ where they specialize in the surgery you require.
What is my official diagnosis?
What is the source of pain that is being addressed?
Are all of my non-surgical options exhausted at this point?
What spine procedure are you recommending and why?
What approach will you use for my procedure? Will you perform my procedure minimally invasively?
What will happen if I don’t have the procedure that you are recommending?
Please explain the spine procedure in detail.
How long will the procedure take?
What are the side effects, potential risks, and potential complications of the procedure?
How do these risks pertain to me with my background and condition? How will I manage them?
How many of these spine procedures do you perform every year?
Do you have any patient materials about my condition and the procedure you are recommending?
How will my procedure affect my functioning afterward?
What happens if you discover a different spine issue during my procedure?
What is the timeline for my procedure?
Where will I receive treatment?
Do you perform the entire procedure? Will there be students or other doctors doing any part of the procedure? If so, what are their credentials and experience?
Can I drive to and from the hospital for my procedure?
Does my insurance cover the procedure you are recommending?
How will this affect my job / work schedule?
What are the long-term consequences of the recommended procedure?
Will I need to apply for disability? Social security disability?
Will I need to take medications? If so, which ones and how often?
Are there any side effects to the medications I will need to take?
Will my quality of life change? Will I function differently?
What is the follow-up plan if the recommended procedure doesn’t work?
Do you have support groups here that you can recommend?
