Category: Spine Surgery | Author: Stefano Sinicropi | Date: March 1, 2026
If you’re considering or set to undergo spine surgery, we want you to take a minute and ask yourself, “What am I hoping to get out of this surgery?” Obviously you want the procedure to be successful, but what does that really mean in the grand scheme of life. We want patients to really think about what they hope to achieve with a spinal procedure, because we believe when you identify and quantify your goals, you’re more likely to reach them. In today’s blog, we spotlight some of the things many spine surgery patients end up identifying as something they want to achieve with their spinal procedure.
What Patients Want From Spine Surgery
We hope you’ll sit down and identify some of the things you want to achieve with your spinal procedure, but here’s a look at some of the most common answers we hear from patients who have already asked themselves this question.
- Pain Relief – Perhaps the most common answer given is that the patient hopes to be in less pain when all is said and done. Whether that is complete pain relief or simply a reduction in the discomfort they are currently experiencing, most patients quickly identify that one of the most important aspects of their operation is achieving some form of relief from their spine pain.
- Return To Physical Activities – Once they’ve identified that pain relief is a goal, it opens the door for patients to focus on other aspects of life that may once again be possible with reduced pain or improved function. Patients may say that they want to golf again, play in the carpet with their grandchildren or enjoy biking the countryside in retirement. While these examples are highly specific, the general sentiment is that many patients also identify some physical activities they hope to be able to pursue again once their back issue has been surgically addressed.
- Daily Tasks And Independence – Whether or not they have grander physical goals, many patients also hope that spine surgery will allow them to be better able to perform some daily tasks and improve or maintain their level of independence. Getting this surgery may allow them to stay in their home or simply rely on others less for things like cooking, cleaning or travel, and that can be huge for patients who are getting older. Surgery can also help them maintain their independence by improving their mobility and balance, which in turn reduces their fall risk.
- Quality of Life – After working their way through some of their goals with their spinal procedure, many patients find that they hope to achieve an improved quality of life following the procedure. The three above points will undoubtedly help you improve your overall quality of life, but they may identify other ways they hope their life improves following spine surgery. Maybe they can travel more, maybe their mood improves and they are less irritable because of chronic spine discomfort, or perhaps they simply find what it’s likely to consistently get quality sleep each night. We urge you to find some specific reasons why you’re pursuing spine surgery that will serve to improve your overall quality of life.
What are you hoping to get out of spine surgery? By identifying these goals, it’s easier for the patient and surgeon to chart a course to help you achieve these goals. To see this process in practice, or to talk to a specialist about the back pain issues you’re dealing with, pick up the phone and connect with Dr. Sinicropi and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
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