Is Surgery Always Needed?
Surgery might not be needed as often as we think. In fact, several studies show that Physical Therapy is just as good if not better than surgery for some conditions.
Our Physical Therapists at Orthocare Physical Therapy Center take an individualized approach to your concerns. We want to help you decrease chances of undergoing unnecessary surgery.
We are Direct Access PT providers, so in some cases, you may not need to have a prescription to first consult with us.
The Evidence
In a recent review, researchers estimated that 10% to 20% of surgeries might be unnecessary. The researchers noted a variety of reasons for so many unneeded surgeries. The most common reasons were that surgeons did not first try more conservative options, or they may have lacked knowledge about the current evidence about the efficacy of some surgeries. For example, if a surgeon has not continued to learn after residency, they may not know that these surgeries often do not offer any more benefit than a non-surgical treatment and will continue to perform them.
Surgery isn’t a cure-all, and is sometimes may just be a very expensive and risky placebo.
In fact, recent evidence suggests that that certain common surgeries are not any better than a placebo. One example is Partial Meniscectomy – a procedure used to treat tears of the meniscus in the knee.
All surgery, even “minor” ones carry risks. The complications include blood clots, delayed healing of the incision and infection. Some patients may have unintended damage to nerves or other organs near the surgical site and sometimes even more serious outcomes.
The current evidence suggests that for some patients and conditions, surgery is a great treatment option, but if it can be avoided, it should be avoided.
How Physical Therapy Helps!
You can often see your Physical Therapist before seeing a surgeon. This is true especially for a musculoskeletal condition. This visit may help keep you out of the operating room. The PT visits may get you back to life without surgery. Often, you can start with Physical Therapy as this may be the right first choice. In fact, PT may the only necessary treatment for many patients.
Check how we can treat and help you.
We treat multiple conditions including but not limited to musculoskeletal problems like Back and Joint Pain, Ligament Sprains, Muscle Strains, Rotator Cuff Tears, Meniscal Tears, Spinal Stenosis, Low Back Pain, and Osteoarthritis.
Clearly, we do not think that Physical Therapy can fix every problem. For some patients, surgery IS the best choice. Still, Physical Therapy may just as good if not better than surgery for several conditions.
Here at Orthocare Physical Therapy Center, we focus on providing 1-on-1 care to give you the best chances to prevent unnecessary surgery.
So, do not wait! What are you waiting for?
