Back pain problems continue to rise in U.S.

The Bonati Spine Institute, the leader in minimally invasive laser spine surgery, reports the results of studies that Americans are increasingly reporting back pain and spending more on back pain, but cautions consumers to carefully research the experience and the surgical outcome results when choosing their spine team.

“It should really be called spine pain because that complex of bones is the center of the system that holds us erect”

Earlier this year, Newsweek reported that despite a growing array of sophisticated drugs, diagnostics, physical therapies, and surgical techniques, the millions of Americans battling back pain are finding that effective treatments for their back problems remain elusive. In many cases, the back pain continues to plague the patient, or the pain even gets worse.

Technically speaking, back pain may be the wrong nomenclature. “It should really be called spine pain because that complex of bones is the center of the system that holds us erect,” stated Dr. Alfred O. Bonati, creator of The Bonati Spine Procedures and Chief Surgeon at The Bonati Spine Institute.

One in every five Americans suffers from back pain. Up to 85 percent of Americans will suffer back pain in their lifetime. The North American Spine Society shows that 30% of those cases will recur. The number of people with chronic debilitating low back pain is growing. Reasons for the increase are unclear, but probable causes are the rising rates of obesity, lack of exercise, stress, depression and awareness of the condition. Even if a person is born with a perfectly formed spine, bones become weaker as you age, and the discs in the spine wear out over time.

The best way to cope with back pain is exercise and weight control. This requires more discipline than pills or an injection, but most people prefer that to a lifestyle change.

Surgery should be the last resort. But when preventive measures have been tried, and conservative treatments are not enough, sometimes back surgery is necessary to bring relief. A study funded by the National Institutes of Health, published in 2006, 2007 and 2008 found that surgical patients recovered more quickly than nonsurgical patients with herniated discs, stenosis and slipped vertebrae.

When back pain is persistent and disabling, however, it indicates the need for a good diagnosis and sometimes for surgery. Back surgery is needed in only a small percentage of cases and is usually reserved for times when a nerve is pinched, the spinal cord is compressed or there is too much movement between the spinal bones. But even then, traditional “open” spine surgery is not often recommended.

While most published statistics claim a success rate of approximately 80% for open spine surgery, physician practice reports that the actual success rate is closer to 50%. Through the utilization of the latest least invasive technology, patients can undergo many back and spine operations in a whole new way. These updated versions of traditional back surgeries allow for great precision, faster healing, and less damage to healthy tissue.

The Bonati Spine Procedures, developed by Dr. Bonati, have a documented success rate of 90%. Over 40% of the patients seen at The Bonati Spine Institute, a leading spine center, are those who need back problems corrected after having previous back surgery performed at another medical facility. These patients that suffer with pain from Failed Back Surgery Syndrome now have renewed hope with The Bonati Spine Procedures.

Developed and perfected by Dr. Alfred O. Bonati, The Bonati Spine Procedures are advanced spine surgeries employing a small incision to correct problems of the lumbar, cervical and thoracic spine with patented instrumentation and methods. The patient, under local anesthesia, is alert and able to communicate with the surgeon throughout the procedure. The result of this approach is far less trauma to the muscles and tissues, minimal blood loss and faster recovery.

While the United States offers the highest standard of healthcare in the world, a vast treatment variation still exists based on the doctor’s experience with minimally invasive laser spine surgery and the spine center that you choose. These two important facts determine the results you will receive. Because quality of life issues are at stake, patients considering minimally invasive laser spine surgery should ask detailed questions, and perform their own due diligence, to ensure that they are making the right decisions about their medical care.

For over 28 years, The Bonati Spine Institute has been the leader in least invasive outpatient spine surgery. Alfred O. Bonati, M.D. was the first to develop and patent methods and instruments for laser spine surgery to correct problems of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine known as The Bonati Spine Procedures. Available only at The Bonati Spine Institute, these gentle procedures have been performed successfully more than 35,000 times to treat conditions that include spinal stenosis, arthritis of the spine, herniated discs, bulging discs and degenerative disc disease.