Dr. David Barnett believes that your best chance for success with spine surgery begins when you enter his office for your first consultation and continues through your recovery period. Neck or back surgery are serious procedures that you never want to rush into.
Dr. Barnett is a renowned neurosurgeon in Dallas who treats complex spinal conditions, disc herniations, and degenerative neck and spine disorders with a minimally invasive approach. He believes that his patients should make informed decisions and feel confident in their diagnosis and course of recommended treatment–and he carefully monitors them before and after their procedures.
Setting the Groundwork for Successful Spine Surgery
The physical and mental preparation for surgery begins on your first visit. It is fundamentally an interview between you and Dr. Barnett. Since many patients have already tried non-surgical interventions, it’s a chance to talk to him about further potential treatment options and procedures.
It’s also an opportunity to get to know you and your motivation to make the necessary lifestyle changes for a successful surgery, understand your medical history, and gauge your tolerance for pain and therapy. It’s best to go into surgery as mobile and healthy as possible. A patient with the right mindset and determination to pursue their physical and mental wellness is a strong candidate.
Data Delivers Reliable Results
Dr. Barnett will review your diagnostic tests with you. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans use magnets to take pictures of your spinal column and the surrounding tissues to provide a clear picture of the damage that is causing your symptoms. For Dr. Barnett, the patient should thoroughly comprehend the results of those scans before moving forward with surgery. He will show the affected area from multiple angles to help his patients understand the goal of the surgery.
Trust Dr. Barnett and the Process
Before and after surgery, Dr. Barnett gives his patients special instructions based on their medical history and lifestyle. For the best results, precisely follow these instructions and call the office if you have any questions. Trust that his team will help you find the relief you need.
Before the surgery, you’ll want to remain as active as possible, keeping up your normal activities and maintaining a balanced diet of protein, fruit, and vegetables. You may be asked to stop taking some medications before the surgery and immediately after it. For example, prescription drugs like blood thinners or painkillers can cause complications or prolong recovery. Dr. Barnett will need a complete list of your medications and will establish what meds you need to stop taking temporarily, when you should stop taking them, and how this may affect your health or pain levels in the meantime.
After surgery, Dr. Barnett believes the priority is always to see his patient up and walking around because health is tied directly to mobility. However, you will also need to understand your limits. Most patients will find that a common sense approach to healing after spine surgery pays dividends with a faster and more comfortable recovery.
Contact Us to Schedule an Appointment with Dr. David Barnett
David Barnett, MD, has helped thousands of patients get back to their life with less pain and improved mobility. Though his focus is spinal and neck surgery, conservative treatments are usually exhausted before surgical intervention is considered. His extensive experience and minimally invasive surgical technique mean decreased operative times, hospital stays, and recovery periods. Schedule your visit with Dr. Barnett today.
