FAQs
Spine Care Questions In Boston MA
At Spine Specialists of Boston, we receive a wide range of questions from potential and established patients regarding their medical care. These queries can range from whether a referral is needed in order to make an appointment with us, to the length of a particular recovery period following surgery.
We’ve collected these frequently asked questions here in the hope they may help others. If your question or concern is not answered here, or if you would like to make an appointment to see one of our spine doctors, call us at (617) 860-6388.
We accept most major insurance plans. There are some exceptions. Please check with your insurance company or call our office at (617) 860-6388.
If you have an HMO plan, you will need to obtain a referral from your primary care physician.
Both types of surgeons complete four years of medical school before entering a residency in their specific field.
Traditionally, orthopedic surgeons complete five years of residency training in the diagnosis and treatment of all musculoskeletal (bone, joint, muscle, and nerve) disorders including those of the spine, whereas neurosurgeons complete their residency training in the diagnosis and treatment of brain and spine disorders.
Many spine surgeons will complete additional training in spine surgery after their residency, in a program called a fellowship. A fellowship involves more specialized training in advanced spinal surgery techniques including spinal fusion, minimally invasive spine surgery, and complex spinal reconstruction.
This depends on the procedure you are having done. You would need to check with our surgical coordinator. Surgery can be performed on an emergency basis if this is clinically indicated.
We perform microsurgery procedures such as microdiscectomies, although we do not use laser technology microscopically.
Yes, the hospital requires pre-operative visits with a doctor. Surgery is performed on patients who are 21 years old and older (possibly as young as 18, depending on the patient's height and weight).
Blood donation prior to surgery is usually performed only on three part scoliosis cases if the doctor feels it is medically necessary.
Recovery time depends on the magnitude of the surgical intervention. It can be anywhere from 4-6 or 8-12 weeks, depending on the area.
Pain management is an essential focus pre- and postoperatively. Patients recover more quickly when pain is appropriately managed. We will prescribe pain medication up to 6 months postoperatively. After that, your primary care physician will resume managing any medication needs or you will be referred to a pain management specialists if needed.
Discharge to a rehabilitation facility is determined by the physician and physical therapists in the hospital. We want patients to be safe and be independent prior to being discharged home. A caseworker will be assigned to you before you are discharged from the hospital to help assess your needs.
Each patient heals to a different extent. It can take up to one year to heal after some procedures.
Sometimes additional surgery is needed, depending on the condition.
