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Back Surgery: To Be? Or Not To Be?

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It is a question that comes up again and again. If a person suffers from chronic back pain should they turn to surgery and, if so, what factors would argue in favor of surgery?

The initial response many people have is check an MRI. But here is the problem. We know that as many as fifty percent or more of healthy individuals have a disc in their back that might be protruding or enlarged. So the answer is not that clear cut.

So how is the decision made? The biggest step might be a careful physical exam and an attempt at supervised rehabilitation.

Often this is a major step that can make a true difference in getting past the injury. So my best advice is that even surgeons will tell you that surgery is the option to be used as a last resort and even then it should be a careful decision.

Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor

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