Do You Really Need Spine Surgery?: Take Control with a Surgeon’s Advice is an essential guide for anyone facing the complex and often misleading world of spinal procedures. Written by a surgeon, this book empowers patients with clear, evidence-based information on when surgery is truly necessary—and when it isn’t.
Deciding whether to undergo spine surgery is one of the most important choices you will ever make.
Author and spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom has observed that in this era of corporate medicine, surgical decisions are often made quickly without a complete evaluation or attempt at non-surgical rehabilitation before proceeding. The result? The majority of spine operations are unnecessary and many surgeries are performed on spines with normal, age-related conditions.
At the Center for Integrative Neuroscience, we recognize the widespread overuse of spinal surgeries, the financial incentives driving unnecessary procedures, and the life-altering consequences for patients who undergo interventions without fully informed consent. This book is highly relevant to those who have witnessed medical systems prioritize profit over patient well-being and to individuals seeking less invasive, neuroscience-driven alternatives for managing chronic pain, nerve damage, and mobility issues.
✔ Understand the Risks vs. Benefits—Learn how to differentiate between truly necessary procedures and those pushed by a system that profits from over-treatment.
✔ Explore Non-Surgical Solutions—Discover evidence-based, integrative approaches to pain management, including neuromodulation, metabolic therapies, and nervous system regulation.
✔ Recognize Medical Gaslighting & Patient Misinformation—Gain critical insights into how patients are pressured into unnecessary surgeries and how to advocate for better care.
✔ Aligns with the Mission of the Center for Integrative Neuroscience—This book reinforces our focus on ethical, patient-centered care, trauma-informed healing, and alternative strategies that support long-term recovery without excessive intervention.
For those who have personally experienced or witnessed patient harm from misguided surgical decisions, this book serves as a powerful tool for navigating medical choices with confidence and control.
When performed for a specific anatomical problem with matching symptoms, the outcomes are consistently satisfying. Conversely, when surgery is conducted to address pain without a clear source, the consequences can be unpredictable, with a high percent of patients faring poorly or becoming much worse (catastrophic). A failed spinal surgery can virtually destroy one’s life. Additionally, when a patient’s nervous system is fired up from stress, results are often poor.
A common cry from patients is, “If I only knew how badly this could turn out, I would have never had this surgery.” The depth of frustration at making the wrong decision is beyond words because there is no turning back.
If you are facing a decision about spine surgery, Do You Really Need Spine Surgery? provides you and your medical providers important information to help make the best choice. All relevant variables are addressed and organized into a “treatment grid.” With this grid, you and your health care team can determine the most effective approach and course of action, with full consideration to the potential downside of a failed spinal surgery.
Do You Really Need Spine Surgery? gives back control of the surgical decision to you, the patient.