Before undergoing surgical spinal fusion, patients with degenerative disk disease should first try physical therapy.

A study conducted at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital ("Operative and Nonoperative Treatment Approaches for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease Have Similar Long-Term Clinical Outcomes Among Patients With Positive Discography" - September 15, 2013) found that "patients with back pain and concordant discography did not demonstrate a significant difference in outcome measures of pain, health status, satisfaction, or disability based on whether the patient elected for fusion or nonoperative treatment."

Related Resources:

• Health Center for Low Back Pain
• Early Physical Therapy Can Be Cost-Effective Treatment for Low Back Pain
• Back Pain Is Often Over-Treated
• Beginning Low Back Pain Treatment With Advanced Imaging Leads to Higher Total Costs
• Physical Therapy Equal to Surgery for Spinal Stenosis
• Podcast: Back Pain: Avoiding Unnecessary Treatment
• Podcast: Success Story: Avoiding Back Surgery to Return to Marathons
• Podcast: Natalie Gulbis on Back Pain and the Physical Demands of Golf
• Podcast: Treatment for Spinal Stenosis: Comparing Physical Therapy and Surgery
• Physical Therapist's Guide to Low Back Pain
• Physical Therapist's Guide to Degenerative Disk Disease
• Physical Therapist's Guide to Spinal Stenosis

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