If you’ve tried the conservative route and haven’t found relief for your back pain, surgery may be the next logical step in the process. Since many people are unfamiliar with surgery, they often just sit back and go with a recommendation from their general practitioner or they Google surgeons in the area who are in-network. While this is the most common way surgeons are picked for elective spinal procedures, it’s not the optimal route. Below, we explain why it’s important to shop around before spine surgery, and how to find the right surgeon for your procedure.
Picking A Specialist For Your Spine Procedure
It’s important to find a specialist that you trust to perform your procedure for a number of different reasons. The first reason is that you want peace of mind knowing that the surgeon performing your operation has the skill and the experience to perform the operation as expected. The surgeon recommended by your general practitioner may have performed thousands of operations, but if they’ve only completed a modest amount of lumbar fusion procedures, they may not be the best bet for your operation. Find a specialist who specializes in all things spine and who has performed the procedure you need countless times.
This isn’t to say that a general surgeon isn’t a good option, but if you had car trouble on your BMW, would you rather have a general auto body shop performing the maintenance or would you rather have the work performed by a BMW speciality shop that knows your car inside and out, along with some of the lesser known tendencies of your specific make and model? A specialist can often provide more attention to detail either through knowledge or experience, and that can make all the difference when it comes to your surgery and recovery.
The logical counter for many patients at this point is price. Specialists tend to be a little more expensive than general surgeons or non-speciality clinics, and nobody wants to overpay for a service they can get elsewhere for cheaper. Aside from the difference in quality that we touched on above, there are some other factors that you should consider when trying to price out your operation.
For starters, it’s really difficult to put a price on improved health. That extra couple hundred dollars may sting now, but paying for a more experienced surgeon could mean the difference between lifelong discomfort and a full recovery. Given the choice after the fact, most people would rather pay more for a better outcome, but many people incorrectly assume they’d get the same operation and recovery no matter where they go, so they opt for the cheaper option or the surgeon who they can see sooner. Again, you can’t put a price on your health, so really weigh your options when considering price. Also, never be afraid to ask for estimates or cost information. Good clinics will be more than happy to provide you with billing codes or estimates as best they can so you can talk with your insurance company and try to wrap your head around a bill amount.
Insurance Considerations
A final point to consider when it comes to cost is your insurance plan. If you’re going to meet your maximum out of pocket expense or you’ve already met it, don’t let cost be a deterrent. While you still need to find insurance approval for a surgeon in your network, your expenses will be capped, so you don’t need to look around for the cheapest option when it will come out close to the same expense anyways. Talk to your insurance company or look into your plan information to get a better understanding of what you’re covered for and what your max out of pocket might be after surgery.
Finally, consider asking around to crowdsource information and don’t be afraid to seek out a second opinion. After all, you are the one hiring the surgeon, so the onus is on them to make you feel that you’re making the right choice. If something doesn’t feel right or you’ve heard bad things about care at a certain facility or with a certain doctor, take your business elsewhere. Trust your gut and see how you feel after meeting with their team. This is your quality of life we’re talking about, so don’t feel pressured to move forward with a surgical team you’re not comfortable with.
Dr. Sinicropi specializes in spine issues and his level of expertise can be the difference between feeling good or feeling great after your spinal surgery. Trust your surgery to a specialist with years of experience treating the exact same condition you’re dealing with. For more information, or to talk to Dr. Sinicropi about your back pain, reach out to his clinic today.
