When Is Back Surgery Helpful?

(CBS)  Mary Cummings tried everything to relieve her back pain. Nothing worked, reports CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook.

"My pain radiated down my leg and it would appear spontaneously and I couldn't predict it," Cummings says. "It was very difficult."

Dr. James Weinstein of the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center diagnosed Cummings with one of the most common back ailments for people older than 55: spinal stenosis, or narrowing that pinches nerves. One of Mary's vertebrae bones had also slipped forward over her spine.

Weinstein is leading an ongoing study of treatment for back pain. Results out today in the New England Journal of Medicine show patients with the condition did substantially better with surgery than patients without.

"Patients who underwent surgery got relief within six to 12 weeks, very rapid," Weinstein says.

Says Cummings: "I would have been someone incapacitated and disabled without this surgery."

But Weinstein's previous research on another common back problem — the herniated disc — showed surgery is not necessarily better than other therapy.

It's important information, because spending for back surgery on Medicare patients alone has increased 500 percent in the last decade.

"The question we have to ask is, are we actually making those patients better," Weinstein asks. "And is spending more money for all these spine operations making a difference in the health of our country? I'm not convinced it is."

Results from Weinstein's third and final study of the most common back ailments will be released later this year.

[servpro9180]

I suffered a major headon collision back in 1987. I was diagosed with a sick sinus node, had no low setting for a heart rate, a pacemaker was installed at age 28. To make a long story short, last year my spine @ C5, C6 and C7 callapsed causing my left side to go numb. After a cat scan they found what happened. Had my spine fused @ C5,C6 and C7 and my heart rate was normal. Turned out it was a pinched nerve the whole time! I feel 20 years younger, didn't realize that it wasn't normal to hurt all those years. I feel great!

[sharonh05]

I had cervical spine surgery in September 06 C4-C7, corepectomy, fusion the whole nine yards. In February 07 I had to go back and have revision sugery because I did not fuse. If I had it to do over again the answer would be NO. I am in constant pain with numbness. This was a great doctor at a great hospital..Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tn. I now go to a pain management clinic and am scheduled for an epidural on Tuesday. People do your research before you go under the knife.

[andielyn-2009]

I'm 31 years old and I have some severe back problems. I've been diagnosed as having herniated discs between L3 and S1. I also have tears in 2 of the discs and degenerative disc disease. I've been through physical therapy, traction, spinal injections and pain medicines...NONE of which have helped. The "spine specialist" I've been seeing for the past year for these problems has told me that I should just stay on pain medications for the rest of my life. I got a 2nd and 3rd opinions with neurosurgeons and both of them agreeded that I would benefit from surgery. Now I'm just currently awaiting approval from my insurance company.

[theblonde31]

Southern-gal, I have had those steroidal injection, since you asked for opinions, Mine did not work. I have had the decompressions, steroid, epidural injections and so far nothing as eased my pain. But everyone is different as is the pain of different kinds. I would say go for it, as it might help you. No one knows until you try it. I have also been through physical therapy, which only made my pain worse. So now the doctors want to do the spinal cord stimulator on me as a last resort, but of course disability still says I am to young to be disabled. So I await in such pain I hate to say what I have been thinking for some time now.........everyone I feel for you all. I also pray you all find relief somehow....Take care. If anyone would like a friend to talk to about back pain email me at [e-mail]

[irishone87]

Hello!
I just want to say that I had spine surgery performed by Dr. James Weinstein in 1989. I am doing great! I had a tumor on L4. Dr.Weinstein and his team rebuilt L4 and fused my spine L3-L5. I want to tell everyone that suffers with back pain, don't give up - sometimes it takes finding the right doctor! I was lucky enough to be refered to the best in the world (in my opinion). I will be thinking of all of you and saying a prayer that you too find relief.
Best Wishes!!

[motheroferin]

I have herniated L4 and L5 discs. I had constant back pain and pains shooting down my leg.Treatment included a variety of pain and muscle medications/injections, physical therapy and manipulation. Nothing was working and surgery seemed to be the only choice. My research showed that only about 20% of back surgery for discs was successful, and the recovery time could be long. Then I heard about the DRX-9000. After the second treatment, the pain in my leg was gone. I am on the last of 20 treatments today. I feel better. The only pain I have now is from the strength building exercises for the structural instability. This treatment has a national success rate of 86%. It works!

[luvny-2009]

Man this is all awful. I read that they were doing a surgery where they replaced disc's with I believe inflated ones and it worked great but of course insurance Co wouldn't pay for it. Also had 2 discs replaced in my neck. They did the bone fusion, worst thing I ever did. That was back in 2002 have pain all the time. Dr. that did it moved from NY to WV to work on kids! The Dr. that took over just wanted to keep me on pain pills, that was in Upstate NY.

[sbro777-2009]

Greetings all, First off I have not yet read the article reffered to here, but I have a herniated disc at L5-S1 and have been suffering for 6 months now. I have researched several possibilities. I have continued with non avassive procedures, traction, specific nerve root injections, etc. There is a procedure that is called plasma disc decompression, or nucleoplasty. This procedure has a 80% sucess rate for contained herniated discs vs. the 18% for surgical procedures. I do not know what surgical procedure they were referring to this morning, but there are several different types of back surgery. The majority of back surgeries for contained herniated discs has been proven to cause more damage than good ie. scare tissue, tissue and disc damage, fragments, etc. All of these lead to future problems.

[epilab]

Surgury works.......

Like many older adults (64) many suffer from lower back pain. However when it moved down both legs and butt...medical treatment was sought. After 3 month of physical therapy wilch did not help...an MRI showed spinal stenosis. No disk issues...but pinched nerves that will only get worse as I age. I was refered to a neurosurgeon. He indicated that epidural shots do not work in many people and are not a forever fix.

Following recommended surgury the leg pain was immidately gone. Lower back pain is going away with further therapy.

I can go for walks agin and normal life is being restored

[taylpatr]

Hey, if anyone with a good back wants to know what it feels like, the closest thing I can recommend is to lie on their back on a concrete floor. Then, roll on your side and insert a baseball between the floor and your spine. Roll on top of the ball. As you lay there, try to imagine not being able to take the ball out. See how long you last.