Why you shouldn’t see the Doctor

Seeing an Orthopaedic Doctor, Neurosurgeon, or General Surgeon can sometimes lead to unnecessary procedures in a specific group of patients. In this article, I will explain who should think twice before choosing surgery as the first step.

For many people, the worst nightmare is waking up after surgery, taking the first steps toward “normal life” — and realizing the pain is exactly the same.

Here are three real examples.

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Patient 1 – Neck Pain Radiating to the Arm

A man had pain radiating from his neck to his hand. The pain worsened while sitting.

An MRI showed a disc protrusion at C6–C7, slightly more prominent on the painful side. The neurosurgeon concluded that the disc must be the cause of the pain (which is not always true) and performed surgery.

After six months of intense rehabilitation, the pain remained unchanged.

The neurosurgeon then suggested another surgery at C5–C6, assuming this must be the true cause. The second surgery was performed.

The pain still did not improve.

Both surgeries could likely have been avoided if the patient had tried physiotherapy first or consulted additional specialists for a second and third opinion. This type of condition often responds very well to conservative treatment.

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Patient 2 – Front Knee Pain

Another patient had pain in the front of the knee during exercise and while walking downstairs.

An X-ray showed osteophytes (degenerative changes). The orthopaedic doctor recommended surgery to remove them.

The patient asked a simple question:

“Are these changes also present in my non-painful knee?”

They were.

So why did only one knee hurt?

The doctor could not clearly explain this but still suggested surgery, saying it was minimally invasive and recovery would be quick. In reality, rehabilitation after such procedures often takes 4–6 months.

The actual solution?

Releasing and treating the scar tissue from an ACL surgery performed 15 years earlier.

The knee loosened.

The pain disappeared.

No surgery needed.

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Patient 3 – Upper Right Abdominal Pain (My Own Case)

After open-heart surgery, I developed upper right abdominal pain.

An ultrasound showed a 6 cm liver cyst. The gastroenterologist suggested surgery because I was experiencing discomfort.

However:

• I didn’t know how long the cyst had been there.

• If the cyst were truly the cause, the pain would likely have developed gradually — not suddenly after chest surgery.

The real cause?

Tightness and restrictions in the chest following the surgery.

After releasing the tension, the abdominal pain completely disappeared.

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The Simple Conclusion

Surgeons treat problems surgically. That is their expertise.

But not every abnormal finding on a scan is the cause of pain.

Very often:

• Imaging findings exist without symptoms.

• Pain does not always equal structural damage.

• Conservative treatment can be highly effective.

In many cases, it is better to try physiotherapy first.

If you truly believe surgery might be necessary, consult at least two or three specialists before making a decision.

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When Is It a Good Idea to Postpone Surgery?

• Pain increases with stress.

• Pain intensity is manageable (not progressive neurological loss).

• There is no clear 100% correlation between imaging and symptoms.

• The condition has proven good outcomes with physiotherapy or just waiting it through. 

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When Is Surgery a Good Idea?

• Serious neurological symptoms that clearly match imaging findings

(e.g., major disc herniation with incontinence or significant muscle weakness)

• Mechanical problems unlikely to improve conservatively

(e.g., knee locking with confirmed meniscus tear)

• Major trauma requiring structural repair

• Progressive, dangerous conditions

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Final Thought

Surgery can be life-saving and absolutely necessary in some cases.

But it should not always be the first option.

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And to help more people find this article thorugh Google: 

Physiotherapist for chronic pain in Umm Suqeim 2, Jumeirah Street, Dubai.