Oregon Exercise Therapy
SCHEDULE YOUR FREE POSTURE EVALUATION!
  • Free Posture Evaluation
  • How It Works
    • Therapy Options >
      • Zoom/Skype/FaceTime Exercise Therapy
    • FAQ
    • OET News Archive
  • Advanced Training for Therapists
    • Education Workshops
  • Testimonials
  • About Matt
    • Contact Me
    • Recommended Products >
      • Therapy Equipment
      • Books and DVDs
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Exercise Equipment
      • Cool Stuff
  • Blog

Surgeries to Avoid

9/1/2015

1 Comment

 
We've seen articles that list the top surgeries to avoid before, but it's worth revisiting this latest list. 
On August 24th The Washington Post published an article by Consumer Reports titled: "If your doctor says you need surgery, you may want to explore other options." 

It listed four surgeries to avoid: knee surgery, carotid artery surgery, spinal fusion, and hysterectomy. Let's explore the two that have to do with posture and biomechanics.

  1. Knee surgery, specifically arthroscopic surgery to trim or remove a torn meniscus. The article states it "is the most common orthopedic surgery in the United States. About 700,000 of the procedures are done each year, a 50 percent increase in the past 15 years. But research shows that it's often no better than physical therapy at easing symptoms." I have written about why meniscus surgery is often ineffective, what causes knee osteoarthritis, and how posture causes knee pain. Arthroscopic knee surgery is only treating the symptom of a torn meniscus but doesn't nothing about the underlying cause of the torn meniscus or pain. Correcting your posture will eliminate the cause of the torn meniscus and your pain while preventing future issues. Sounds like a win-win to me!
  2. Spinal fusion to treat spinal stenosis. The articles states: "As we age, overgrowth of the bone surrounding the spinal canal can pinch nerves and cause a burning pain in your buttocks that radiates down your leg. A common treatment for that condition, called spinal stenosis, eases pressure by removing part of the bone and tissue." The problem with that statement is they are confusing correlation with causation. Aging does not cause spinal stenosis just because we see many older people develop it. The cause of spinal stenosis is something I have written about previously. The article continues: "Many surgeons combine that procedure, called laminectomy, with another one, called spinal fusion, which is meant to stabilize the spine. The number of fusion procedures jumped 67 percent among Medicare patients between 2001 and 2011. But for most people, there’s no evidence that adding fusion works better than performing laminectomy alone. Fusion also carries more risks and costs more." Both surgeries treat the symptom of bones spurs and growth around the spinal cord and nerves but doesn't nothing about the cause of the spurs - postural imbalances and improper movement patterns. The Consumer Reports article says: "There’s a good chance, in fact, that you don’t need any surgery. In a study published in April, patients who had physical therapy did as well as surgery patients." 

If you would like to see if you can avoid unnecessary surgery and would like to find out the underlying cause of your pain contact me today for a free posture evaluation and consultation. 

Related articles/videos:
Cause of back pain is never found in 85% of patients. Why?
Low back pain video
Egoscue and low back pain

Why runners don't get knee arthritis
1 Comment
Meddco Healthcare link
1/6/2020 01:39:18 am

Nice blog!!!!! Keep writing visit Meddco Healthcare: https://www.meddco.com/ for affordable healthcare packages
Thank you for keep sharing.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    About Matt Whitehead

    I'm an Egoscue Institute certified Postural Alignment Specialist (PAS) and Advanced Exercise Therapist (AET), certified personal trainer, PatchFitness performer, FiveFingers wearer, trail runner, mountain biker, dad, music lover, environmentalist, and wanna-be slam dunk champion. I will be providing you with the latest posture exercises to help you live, play, and be pain free.

    Archives

    January 2023
    August 2022
    July 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    February 2021
    February 2019
    October 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All
    Beliefs
    Chronic Pain
    Emotions
    Exercise
    Health
    Play
    Posture
    Sports Injury

WHAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY

I really just wanted to express my gratitude for what you do and your great help. And, great help it was!! When one is in constant great pain for as long as I was and so desperate for help...words cannot express what I want to say....how can I thank you enough? You helped change my life. 
– Carrie
I feel soooo limber and free in my hip movements and relaxed in my low back. Outstanding and I'm very impressed with the pdf's and the videos, great support to the client. Wonderful job, keep up the great job. – Mike
It is amazing! I've been in pain for 5 years and worked with other therapists and no one has been able to help me. Working with you I am 95% pain free! It feels so good to not have any pain and be able to walk and do things I haven't been able to do for years. Thank you so much! - Joni
Storybrand Website Design by Red Door Designs
Photos used under Creative Commons from mynameisharsha, Jon Grado