In the past, the doctor said to the patient, “You need surgery,” and then the matter was decided and the surgery was done, meaning that the decision to have surgery or not was in the hands of the doctor. This is not the case anymore: the decision to operate or not to operate is entirely in the hands of the patient. Unless there is a very urgent situation, the patient is usually involved in the decision process and ultimately decides whether or not to operate. When you are faced with this problem, the following points can help you understand and have some basic information to assist you in making the decision: “Surgery, to do or not to do?” 1. What you need to do before surgery The decision to have surgery or not is entirely in your hands, no one or force can influence and force you to make this decision, and all you have to do is to make the final choice. Therefore, it is very important for you to consider as thoroughly as possible the pros and cons between doing and not doing the surgery, and the risks and benefits you may face as well as the probability of success. If you choose to go ahead with the procedure, it is important that you are confident in your decision and that you have the right attitude and rational goals in mind when going ahead with the procedure, as well as a clear understanding of what the outcome should be. In this way, maintaining and having a correct and rational mental attitude will be very beneficial for your recovery. The best way to help you have the right attitude is to learn and understand all about your current health condition and the recommended procedure. Ask as many questions as you can to make sure you know in your own mind what the procedure should be, how it will be done and what you can expect to achieve afterwards. You can ask your doctor to see if he or she can give you any written information or tell you to look at some information related to the procedure, such as books, pamphlets, websites or videos, etc., to help you better understand your condition and the situation of the upcoming surgery. What your doctor will do One of the things your doctor will do is to give you the necessary information about your condition in order to help you make the right decision. That is, once your doctor has done a thorough examination, accurately evaluated your condition and diagnosed it, make sure you have a good understanding of the severity of your condition and how you got it (i.e., what the cause is), and ask as many questions as you need to. After this, your doctor will provide you with all possible treatment options for your condition and tell you how to proceed. The information your doctor gives you should clearly help you make a decision about whether you need surgery. If you feel you don’t have enough information to make a decision, then ask more questions. You should not feel that you are disturbing the doctor by asking too many questions, because the most important thing is that you finally understand your condition and what treatment options are available for your condition. Be fully aware of the many risks that surgery can entail. All surgeries are associated with complications of varying degrees, such as infection, excessive bleeding, anesthesia accidents, surgical trauma, and other side effects. Likewise, many spine surgeries carry additional risks such as numbness, nerve damage, paralysis, or loss of control over bowel movements. Before you agree to any surgery, it is important to understand all of the possible complications associated with the procedure. Most spine surgeries are considered safe today, but you still need to carefully discuss some of the risks associated with surgery with your doctor. While you may be deterred by the risks of surgery, you must also consider the risks you may face if you do not have surgery, such as persistent pain, further nerve damage, or even lifelong disability. It is important for you to understand what is affecting your quality of life and how it will affect your life if you do not have surgery. This requires you to think carefully and weigh the possible risks and benefits between having surgery and not having surgery, and then make the choice that you think is best for you. 3. If you decide to have the surgery As the first step on your road to recovery, listen carefully to your doctor’s guidance and advice, and focus your energy on improving your health as the ultimate goal. Once you are confident enough and feel that surgery is the best treatment option for you, you can begin to set your sights on your future path to recovery.