MSNBC: Back Surgery May Backfire for Back Pain Patients
October 18, 2010 15:49 by juliecoxcid
MSNBC reports on the statistics of back surgery which aren't all that favorable: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39658423/ns/health-pain_center
1. 600,000 Americans choose back surgery
2. 1450 Ohio Work Comp back pain patients with similar diagnoses:
* 1/2 had surgery with fusion - At 2 years, 26% returned to work...plus a 41% increase in pain killer use.
* 1/2 did not have surgery - At 2 years, 67% returned to work.
3. 2007 Agency for Health Care Policy and Reform reports
* 27 million Americans with back problems
* $30.3 million spent on back pain.
* PT, pain management, chiropractic, spine surgeries (which makes up the most)
4. complicated spine surgeries with fusion - 8 times increase in 15 years
5. "Even when the surgery is a success, it rarely dispels 100 percent of back pain."
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