The stress of an illness or injury, the impending surgery, and the recovery process after surgery can all have a significant impact on a patient's physical, psychological and social state. Psychological preparation for spine surgery can help patients address potential problems in all three of these areas before they occur to prevent or minimize their impact. Any kind of surgery creates a serious amount of stress, and surgery for back pain is certainly no exception. The back surgery process and surgical pain are major physical and psychological stressors, extending from the decision to have the operation until the recovery is complete 1. Slowed tissue healing time 2.
Physical pain is also a source of stress, and inadequate pain control can be very demoralizing.
Patients who are provided with adequate pain management become active sooner and show significantly less emotional distress. Ensuring adequate pain control is an important issue. The guidelines reviewed an abundance of research showing that poorly controlled pain impairs healing and recovery.