08 Jan Does Brian Work with Post-Surgical Back Pain Clients?
Article Rundown
- Does Brian work with post-surgical clients?
- Who is a good candidate for surgery?
- Mistakes to avoid if you get surgery
- Conclusion
Does Brian Work With Post-Surgical Clients?
In this video, I address whether I work with clients who have undergone back surgery. Do I assist individuals recovering from back surgery, and do I help them rebuild? The simple answer is yes, I do. I work with a variety of post-surgical and post-procedure clients, including those who have undergone treatments such as PRP injections, stem cell therapy, spinal decompression, laminectomy, microdiscectomy, multi-level fusions, and more.
However, a crucial aspect of surgery needs to be understood. Many individuals do require back surgery, particularly if they have experienced an acute fall or trauma to the spine. Some people may believe that because I use the McGill Method or have spoken out about back surgery in the past, I am opposed to it. This is a misconception. I am not anti-back surgery; rather, I am against unnecessary back surgery. It is crucial to allow sufficient time for a back injury to heal before considering surgery. In Back Mechanic, Dr. McGill discusses several red flags to watch for, which can indicate when surgery may be necessary.
Who Needs Back Surgery?
That said, some of the most concerning surgical outcomes I have witnessed are those involving individuals who had a relatively minor disc bulge or herniation and rushed into surgery to address it. These patients often end up needing additional surgeries, as they repeatedly injure themselves and return for further procedures. This is a cycle that could have been avoided by addressing the underlying cause of the pain before resorting to surgery. Unfortunately, this happens far more often than it should, and it is frustrating because many of these cases could have been avoided without the need for surgery in the first place. Surgery is not a magical fix; simply cutting into the spine does not solve the root problem.
When it comes to significant herniations, the good news is that, when approached correctly, they are highly likely to improve—even more rapidly than smaller herniations—if you follow the proper rehabilitation methods outlined in Back Mechanic. Whether surgery is appropriate largely depends on the type and severity of the back injury. For example, if you have sustained an injury from a car accident or a serious fall, surgery may be required depending on the nature of the damage to the spine. However, if your back pain is more mild, opting for surgery could lead to a cascade of worsening issues that are best avoided.
Don’t Make This Mistakes if You Get Surgery
For those who genuinely require surgery, it is essential to recognize that surgery alone is not a cure. It is only one step in the process. You must still focus on rebuilding strength, mobility, and pain-free capacity. I have seen post-surgical clients provided with paperwork that advises them to return to activity and “ease into it.” Still, this approach is far too ambiguous, often leading to setbacks and even further complications. While I do not recommend treatments like PRP injections or stem cell therapy for disc, facet, and nerve pain, you can learn more about my stance on these therapies in a previous video I did on this topic [HERE].
One of the worst outcomes I frequently see is when patients undergo surgery and then are prescribed a cookie-cutter physical therapy program. Often, this program includes exercises like touching their toes, even when flexion and extension were the primary causes of their pain before the surgery. How can a post-surgery patient benefit from exercises that promote flexion and compression right after surgery if it was what caused the injury in the first place? This approach often exacerbates the problem rather than aiding recovery, further causing the cascade of bone and ligament damage beyond the disc and endplate in many cases.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you have had surgery and need assistance rebuilding, I am happy to support you through your recovery. Surgery alone will not likely resolve the underlying issue. You must still identify and address the root cause of your pain/injury, rebuild your strength, allow the muscles and bones to heal while slowly increasing your capacity, and learn how to move in a way that prevents a recurrence of pain and additional surgeries. If you would like help with this, I offer in-person and virtual consultation options. You can learn more about these services [HERE].
Please, just remember, simply going right back to painful or formerly painful activities shortly (a couple of weeks or sometimes sooner as directly by the surgeon who never sees them again after 2 weeks) after surgery is one of the worst decisions I see clients make; these are typically the client who starts with spinal decompression surgery, then by the time they get to me, they are fused, sometimes still in pain 3-4 surgeries later, while having been provided no clear direction on what to do, what not to do, or even understanding how they were injured in the first place; in my opinion, this is wrong.
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